I was nosing around on the Fred Hutchinson CC site (Seattle) and found this quote about OC:

"Who is at Risk?

Most cases of oral cancer are related to the use of tobacco and alcohol. Quitting tobacco (or never using it) and limiting alcohol use to one drink per day or less sharply reduces the risk, even after many years of use.

This type of cancer is more common in men than women because of drinking and smoking habits. Men over 40 are most at risk. African Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer more often than whites.

Other risk factors include eating few fruits and vegetables and contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease."

I'm guilty of not eating many fruits and vegetables! Maybe that explains why cancer came well after I stopping smoking and drinking.

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.