On the other side...When I was told I had SCC I was also told it was caused by a lifetime of heavy smoking and drinking. Since I was a light smoker for a short period in my life and had quit 35 yrs prior to cancer I was ashamed to tell people. Imagine, I had been on a 35 year crusade to convince people to stop smoking because of health reasons and I have to tell them I had cancer due to smoking. Not a conversation I wanted to have.

When I told my doctors that it couldn't be caused by smoking they just looked at me and said "well, what difference does it make, you still got the cancer and the treatment is the same." Well it did make a difference to me. Luckily I found this site and luckily I tested positive for HPV so it validated my reasons for quiting. (Yeah I know...I still got the cancer but hey nobody was there x number of years ago to warn me about HPV, not that that would have done any good, but I digress.)

Now that was 2 years ago and today more non smokers are told about the possibilities of the HPV connection but there still are some who never smoked that test negative for HPV. Perhaps there's another virus yet discovered?

I don't know whether your Mom smoked or not but if she did it might be the perfect time to remind those that ask, that her doctors contribute her cancer to her tobacco use. JM2C's

David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.