I was asked by a few of you whether i was HPV positive. I found out recently that my tumour was in fact HPV negative. It was in the original report/diagnosis. My mother knew about it, but i guess it was so much of a blur to me at the start. It didn't really seem important at the time!

I just wanted to clear that up. I'll add it to my signature shortly..
Cheers,

dave

Dave, thanks for adding that important info! Since you are so young, I had assumed you were HPV+. As a nonsmoker it scares me knowing you are one of the growing numbers of young survivors with no risk factors.

Hi Dave - just wanted to add my congrats on how well you are doing. That is so good to hear! You mentioned getting a tattoo - My son Paul recently got a tattoo of a radiation symbol. I 'm not sure if he drew it or not, but it is a very simple one. If you are looking for ideas for a design, you can see lots of them by searching on google images at: http://www.google.com/imghp

It is a scary thought. The doctors really had no answers to why i got it. But i'm proof that no one is ammune to getting this disease.

The next step for me I think, is to try and raise awareness. Doctors and patients need to become aware that it's possible to get this disease even if they don't fit the description. So maybe next time when a young person comes in to their local doctor with a 'mouth ulcer' they won't be dismissed like I was originally. It took until the 3rd or 4th appointment before they finally acknowledged that i should have it checked/biopsied by a specialist! I'd discovered the 'ulcer' several months earlier.

I've begun writing a letter that i'm going to send in to a tv show over here called 'the 7pm project'. It's a nightly news show watched by a big audience here. They're always promoting charities and it's dissapointing to never see oral cancer given a mention anywhere. I'm aiming high i know, but it's worth a go

And thankyou very much Anne Maree :-) that's a good idea. I might be able to combine that symbol with 'the survival logo. I'm hoping for something simple,but effective. Cheers ! Dave

Dave, excellent activism! Its so important for everyone to know about oral cancer, the symptoms and about early detection. Its too bad that it is such an unknown disease. Gosh, just think of what you could have been spared if yours was diagnosed earlier. OCF has worked so hard at making oral cancer a household word.

Cheers Christine, sorry I'm late getting back to reply. Ive been busier than usual lately. I've finished the letter but I'll show my mother so she can edit & add some experiences from her side as my caregiver. I'm planning on sending some out next week. I'd love to get the word out. And yeah, so much could have been spared, & my experience would have been more pleasant if I'd been diagnosed when I had my original checkups.. It's something I can't change for myself, but I can create some hope for the next 'young' person who's unlucky enough to get the disease. Fingers crossed someone reads my letter

Dave - It's great that you are doing so much to spread the word about OCF and Oral Cancer. Send your info to as many people s you can think of that may be able to help to spread awareness. The more people involved, especially if they see who copies are sent to, the better chance there is for them to scramble to be the first to get your story! Send pics too, if you can. And let us know how it goes. Btw - Got the tattoo, yet?

David awesome in the activism - its scary how many young people it's hitting these days - people with no precursors for it I think the minute they ask you if you smoke and or drink and you reply no they automatically rule out OC because in the past it was primarily a cancer found in older people ( men mostly ) who were smokers and or heavy drinkers. Now with HPV, and the unknown factor which is what I am attributing my cancer to (which could have been could several years ago) the face of OC is changing. Good luck in you quest to enlighten the masses. You are doing amazingly well - it's so great to see. Take care and many blessings to you.

hey guys, sorry i've been away all weekend and haven't had a chance to reply any earlier. I have tomorrow and Tuesday off work so i'm looking to get myself organized and send some away!

Thanks for the advice Anne-Marie. I hadn't thought of sending photos, but I will take a few to send along with the letter. I haven't got any photos of myself after surgery though. I was a pretty scary sight, especially with the jaw split. But i have a couple during radiation that I'll post.. And i'll send a few photos of my scars, mouth, etc.

I haven't gotten the tattoo yet, but a friend of mine who's great with art has designed a sketch for me. I'm actually quite excited about the idea. It incorporates my battle with cancer along with the things that mean the most to me.. (and the things that got me through my experience.) I think it's going to turn out really well, and it'll be one to be proud of. I'm hoping to take it to the 'tattooist' this week.

Cheers Cheryld. Whether i was a smoker or not is always the first question i'm asked when i tell someone what i've had. I'm HPV negative too so there's no clear cause for me. Hopefully I can play my part in getting the word out.

Thanks for the advice. If anyone else has any ideas for me to add into my letter, please reply to me on here.. Or msg me.
Thanks again,
Cheers!
Dave