I really had no explanation. For the past four or five years prior to diagnosis I occasionally enjoyed a hand rolled Cuban cigar, but I can’t imagine that was enough to cause cancer. I saw a dentist early on who thought it was lichen planas, and I’ve often wondered if maybe he was right and that turned to cancer. He also suggested maybe I was chewing on my cheek at night because of stress. Again, maybe he was right and that wound turned to cancer. I guess I’ll never know, but one oncologist told me it wasn’t uncommon for folks to contract a cancer that there was no reason for them to have, and I was just one of those who drew the short straw. I just want rid of it!