Hey Lauren,

I figured I would stop in and say hi. I had just recently turned 23 at the time of diagnosis. If you have any questions or just want to chat, just email me. My blog was linked above by Leslie so feel free to check that out as well.

Hi Lauren,

Although I'm not under 30, I am under 40...40 is the new 30 :-) Like you, I have never smoked and I'm only an occasional drinker. I'm sure you shocked when you first go the news being so young. I thought I was young when I was diagnosed and that was 3 months ago!

I've been wondering how I got this but it seems it could be hundreds of things or as a radiologist told me this morning, just a fluke. So, please know that you are not alone.

However, I would love to get a group of young, non-smoker/drinkers together and non-HPV to see what may have triggered this...maybe products that we are using, lifestyles, etc. I'm very curious as to what may have caused this.

Hi Lauren,

I was diagnosed almost 6 months ago at age 29. Being so young has been difficult for me too. Here in Australia - oral cancer counted as one of the lesser known cancers and anyone under with it is pretty much non-existent.

Tamara

Partovis,

My dr told me the same thing..a fluke! Do what? hahaI wouldnt mind some comparisons to see if there is anything in common.

Lauren,
I am 31 and was just diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the floor of the mouth. I too am not a smoker or a drinker. I have not been test for HPV, but that is a question I will be asking at my follow up appt, next week. I was surprised to hear the diagnosis from my Dr. It is very gut wrenching especially when you have your whole life ahead of you. Anyway, my Dr. believes he got it all, but will have a PET scan in a few weeks to make sure. I am glad to know I am not alone.

I doubt they will test you for HPV as most HPV+ SCC starts in the Oropharynx region which is primarily the base of tongue and the tonsils. We have seen quite a few people within the last year similar to you, i.e. young, non smoker, non or occasional drinker diagnosed with SCC in the tongue area with no known associated cause.

Good luck and let's pray it's gone forever.

[quote=davidcpa]We have seen quite a few people within the last year similar to you, i.e. young, non smoker, non or occasional drinker diagnosed with SCC in the tongue area with no known associated cause. [/quote]

Just thinking out loud here.....

One variable that seems common in young people is excessive use of cell phones. From time to time you hear cautions about possible cellular damage caused by excessive exposure to cell phone radiation. I wonder if this has been looked at in relation to being a possible causitive factor in oral cancers?

The young people predominantly have a positive HPV16 disease. Cell phones have never been proven to cause any damage. This has been looked at by a lest 4 peer reviewed publications that I have read, and none found a correlation to cell phone use with ANY cancer, let along oral.

The young people predominantly have a positive HPV16 disease. Cell phones have never been proven to cause any damage. This has been looked at by a lest 4 peer reviewed publications that I have read, and none found a correlation to cell phone use with ANY cancer, let alone oral.

[quote=Brian Hill]The young people predominantly have a positive HPV16 disease. Cell phones have never been proven to cause any damage. This has been looked at by a lest 4 peer reviewed publications that I have read, and none found a correlation to cell phone use with ANY cancer, let alone oral. [/quote]

Just a thought.

Thanks for the clarification.