Possible Oral Cancer

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Well, I probably shouldn't be jumping the gun here and worrying myself too much but I can't talk myself into ignoring the pain in my mouth.

I've had a white patch on my tongue since the end of January.  I also have some soreness on one side of my throat at the back of my tongue.

My dentist monitored the patch the last few months.  We are hoping that the soreness is from my teeth grinding but after wearing a guard for the past few weeks it is seeming less likely.

Anyway, I was given an emergency referral for a biopsy and am waiting for a date.

I just have a really bad feeling about this because of the soreness at the back of my tongue. 

Do any of you lovely people have any experience with this type of cancer? 

Comments

  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited May 2012

    Hi Lifelover, sorry I can't help with your question but I can send you a huge (((((hug))))) and hopes that your biopsy comes back B9.  Good luck!

    Love n hugs.    Chrissy 

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited May 2012

    Hi Lifelover. I went through this same scare last year (but I was too afraid to point it out to a doctor). It got really bad...a white painful patch all along the back of my tongue and tonsil area. It eventually started to bleed so I had to tell the doctor. Turns out it was just oral thrush. Hoping this is the case for you as well.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited May 2012

    It is good to check this out. My sister, a nonsmoker, had some funny things in her mouth which turned out to be extremely serious. The treatments and surgeries were incredibly hard, but she is able to speak with her rebuilt tongue and has now passed the four year mark.



    If your biopsy is positive, PM me. fore the name of her srugeon. He is a god, and one of the nicest people I have ever met.



    All the best,



    susan

  • Miller1353
    Miller1353 Member Posts: 84
    edited May 2012

    If you have just finished a round of antibiotics, it may be thrush. I had thrush each time I had reconstructive surgery. I have found with thrush, there is also a terrible, bitter taste in my mouth.  Because I am a worrier, I always pay extra to have the dentist screen for oral cancer. He also does a panoramic x-ray to look for mets in the jawbone. I guess that is not uncommon.  There seems like there is always something to worry about...hang in there. Good thoughts are coming your way from me!

  • lifelover
    lifelover Member Posts: 553
    edited May 2012

    Hi and thank you lovely people!

    Chrissy, thanks for your love and hugs - I can feel them all the way here in England :)

    Gracie and Demiller4, I had constant thrush during my chemo which ended in September.  I was treated several times for the thrush and it went away in November.  It certainly could be thrush and that's what I'm hoping for.

    Thanks for reaching out to me Susan.  If I need a surgeon I may be in touch.  I'm a classical musician - a woodwind player.  So, the thought of surgery and not being able to play music or sing again is quite frightening.  I'll certainly do my research if a surgeon is needed.  I'm trying not to google too much and just keeping myself busy with living ilfe.

    Hugs and love to you all for your support! 

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited May 2012

    lifelover...I've had thrust and lots of canker sores the last few years. Antibiotics is the culpret for my problems. Since 2 recent surgery and 2 bouts of antibiotics by IV and oral antibiotics I'm again plagued with white patches and canker sores. I feared oral cancer as well because mine are slow to heal. The reason for my slow healing is herceptin which causes slow cell turnover. If you are doing chemo you might have a problem with thrust as well. My oncologist suggested a biopsy and I said no. She also prescribed a anti-virus medicine thinking it could be from a virus. Tried it and it didn't help. It's not a herpie virus...for me it's low immunity.

    What helps is gargling with salt and baking soda if you can tolerate it. Keep away from sugar, chocolate, caffine and nuts. You might try an anti-fungal medicine like nystain or difficum (sp). 

    For me, I prefer to try at least at first to find less harsh ways to deal with the white patch or mouth sores.

  • Hindsfeet
    Hindsfeet Member Posts: 2,456
    edited May 2012

    lifelover...I've had thrust and lots of canker sores the last few years. Antibiotics is the culpret for my problems. Since 2 recent surgery and 2 bouts of antibiotics by IV and oral antibiotics I'm again plagued with white patches and canker sores. I feared oral cancer as well because mine are slow to heal. The reason for my slow healing is herceptin which causes slow cell turnover. If you are doing chemo you might have a problem with thrust as well. My oncologist suggested a biopsy and I said no. She also prescribed a anti-virus medicine thinking it could be from a virus. Tried it and it didn't help. It's not a herpie virus...for me it's low immunity.

    What helps is gargling with salt and baking soda if you can tolerate it. Keep away from sugar, chocolate, caffine and nuts. You might try an anti-fungal medicine like nystain or difficum (sp). 

    For me, I prefer to try at least at first to find less harsh ways to deal with the white patch or mouth sores.

  • lifelover
    lifelover Member Posts: 553
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for your advice and support Eve.

    I'm not on chemo right now (finished 8 months ago) but am taking tamoxifen. 

    I'm really hopeful that it's thrush.  I had several treatments of diflucan and nystatin.  And I agree that gargling with salt and baking soda is important - I also do this.

    The one way I could be making my thrush worse is sugar and caffeine and nuts.  Nuts - I'll be darned - I didn't know nuts could be a problem.  I could also stop the nuts :)  Good advice that I need to listen to.

    Thanks again Eve! 

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