Nelie,

Yes, I was told by one doctor at the CCC where I was treated that he had seen particularly aggressive cancers among young non-smokers. It turns out this information was simply anecdotal--something that he later emphasized when I asked. Let me reiterate, however, that I've also seen a few people on this board mention that oral cancer patients are particularly disadvantaged when they are young. I just wanted to clarify that this claim is unfounded.

About the whole smoking ordeal, I also asked this. Yes, having been a long time smoker does carry some significant risks. However, I was also told that quitting smoking greatly decreases the likelihood of a recurrence (something we all know).

Gino