I am thinking this isn't the right topic for this question, but maybe it should be it's own new category, where things like HPV can be threaded, etc?

I'd like to start it off by asking the following about spicy foods.

Seems to me, someone who is predisposed to oral cancer should avoid any repetitive "irritation" of the mouth and throat....fair enough.

I firmly believe a certain mouthwash, starts with an "L" and has a LOT of alcohol content may have contributed to my cancer development...I started using said oral rinse about 20 years ago, when I was still in high school. Kept it in the shower and used it at least once a day, usually 2 or 3x a day, EVERY DAY for 20 years.

Since I've never smoked, never drink in excess, and haven't ever chewed tobacco seems like an interesting but useless correlation.

I guess it might be useful for others to know (if this is true) and most importantly an easy change for me, I now use Crest Pro Health which has no alcohol. (We'll probably find that one of it's active ingredient is carcinogenic someday

Wait! I was asking about spicy foods...yikes.

Ok, so now more than ever I seem to crave VERY spicy foods, especially the Tabasco type seasonings. I crave and consume a TON of Frank's Red Hot sauce, Tapatio, and Chalula brand sauces.

Wondering if this constant "irritation" of the mouth is a bad thing.

Also, wondering if the cravings are a by-product of the treatment in some way? Physically craving more "stimulation" of the taste-buds since they may not be 100% of pretreatment sensitivity? Or maybe psychological, since I feel entitled to enjoy spicy or strong stuff since for months and months during and after treatment I could hardly drink a sip of water.

Heck, that could be a good excuse for eating in general...I recall saying to myself, "Why can't I enjoy this giant bad-for-me pizza, after all I've been through I deserve it". (I know, I'm a nut job!)

Speaking of pizza, I think it is nearly proven that nitrates and processed meats are terrible for us and in-particular to be avoided for those with cancer concerns. Is this covered in a topic somewhere..?

Wow - I'm all over the place here! To stay on theme, let me throw this out there too...

Anyone use a certain throat spray for sore throat? It's active ingredient Phenol may be linked to certain cancers. Of course, what isn't right? This one in particular though is used to make plastics, nylon and epoxy, so who knows?

Here's a blurb from the EPA:
"It is not known if phenol causes cancer in humans. Cancer developed in mice when phenol was applied to the skin several times per week for the lifetime of the animal. Phenol did not cause cancer in mice or rats that drank water containing it for 2 years. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA have determined that phenol is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans."

(Is it uncool to post these things?)

So, it's likely these topics have been thoroughly exhausted on previous threads and I guess I was too lazy to keep searching for them.

Just puttin' it out there.