David, I stopped smoking over 38 years ago and stopped drinking almost 15 years ago. HNC doesn't run in my family. I haven't been tested for HPV, but I haven't been exposed to it for almost 15 years, if then.

Not only that, but I received a full course of conventional (XRT) radiation, yet, a new tumor emerged inside my tongue less that two and one-half years later -- There's more to this than we understand and I believe it foolish to think otherwise!

BTW, they have linked HNC to oxygen -- Nearly 100% of HNC victims have used the stuf for years! Prostate cancer has been found to be far more prevalent in males than in females!

Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.