Sandy,

First off I do not ask if they are smokers, I ask if they are/were a TOBACCO USER. As we all know there are 2 major causes of Oral SCC; HPV and Tobacco. There may be an emerging 3rd cause but as yet it isn't separately identified. As we also suspect HPV and Tobacco related SCC respond differently to current treatment and (therefore) has different recurrence rates with Tobacco related SCC being the more aggressive of the 2. We also know that most HPV+ SCC begins in the Oropharynx region. Therefore when I ask a new poster if they were a Tobacco user I am trying to find out more about their cancer not to taint them in any way whatsoever. If I do find out they are a tobacco user I do everything I can to persuade them to stop as their life may very well depend upon it.

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.