Hey guys, I'm new here...so I'm just posting in the wrong section, forgive me for that.
I've been a regular dipper since I was about 16 1/2 at a rate of about 2-3 dips a day (considerably less when I started), with a few "days off" here and there; I also was a smoker for a few months (which means I cut back on my dipping considerably, but still didn;t quit). I'll be 20 in December.
I haven't had any leukoplakia, discoloration, or anything scary-looking show up in my mouth; the only potential oral cancer (or otherwise any cancer) symptom I've had is the feeling of something being caught in my throat, and I just got over bronchitis a few weeks ago, so that likely is nothing serious. Also, I don't have any family history of cancer and have had several relatives who have smoked/dipped for many years with no big health issues.
Despite all that, I'm still worried as hell, all the time, even though I've quit. I keep thinking about that dude from the anti-tobacco commercials who started dipping at 13 and got cancer at 16; even though I'm probably fine, I still worry that that could be me. Something new pops up every day that makes me think I could have cancer or something, even though I know it's probably not a big deal. I pray about this daily, and that's reassuring (and it feels like I'm slapping God in the face by worrying about it). But, since I used tobacco for all that time, I'm going through some pretty intense hell worrying about what I've done to myself...kind of makes me want a rewind button. The upside: quitting's been relatively easy so far, and I've resolved to never use tobacco again; the past few weeks are enough to make me hate tobacco with a passion that I've never hated anything with in my life.
...I'm done venting now; thanks guys.
