personally i don't think it matters a damn what all the papers and articles say.Facts and figures give you an overview of recurrence and survival rates,the bottom line is it only matters if it happens to you.Rob had SCC.At the time of diagnosis he was given a 90% chance of surviving 10 years based on the information available,ie examination,scans and pathology and histology.He had 67 lymph nodes removed which showed no sign of disease.His scans were clear for spread outside of the diseased area.7 months later after surgery and radiotherapy he was dead.His scans showed invasion of the lungs,and his recurrance was described as the most aggressive the surgeon had seen,and yet they had no indication that this was how his disease would progress.I had many online buddies whos origonal diagnosis was much worse than Robs and they are still here living full lives with no problems,one in particular who was being treated for a recurrence after 9 years out.He is now back at work,and fit and well again.Why?

I have come to the conclusion its a lottery,Rob thought it was genetic as all the males in his family including his father had developed cancer in their 50's but none of them had the same cancer.My sister in law lost her mother to ovarian cancer ,her father to oral cancer and bowel cancer,and her sister to breast cancer age 42,she herself has been treated for carcinoma in situ of the cervix since she was 20 and has recently had a hysterectomy because the staging moved up to three,she is 47.

Oral cancer survival rates are always quoted poorly because of ignorance,lack of information,late diagnosis,and lack of research and publicity funding....the cinderella of cancers.Being proactive in your treatment is a great thing,but time spent trawling the internet for reasons why is not the best way of moving forward and onward and hopefully away from your diease.Sqeezing every last moment you have on this earth living your life to the full is.