Dear Amy,

Welcome to the forum. This can be tough but you can get through it and get back to your life. You will be blessed to have support on this site. I just have a few things I'd like to comment on about your post.

1. Oral cancer is not generally believe to be one of the kinds of cancer that is hereditary.
2. HPV is a common cause of oral and cervical cancer but a VERY high percentage of women have HPV, and it *usually* doesn't lead to cancer and is not tested for when you get STD tests initially.

All the best to you!

FIL completed treatment 10/08. CG to father in Law in india who had SCC oral tongue T2N2M0. FIL underwent surgery, neck dissection, IMRT, and erbitux without losing weight or getting nauseated. Completed October 2008. SO far so good.