Christine gave you very good advice on all accounts anything that lasts longer than a few weeks should be checked out - and skoal can cause cancer. Don't wait too long. Try not to freak out but do stop the skoal and keep an eye on it. Check around to see if there is gov. assistance in the mean time. Take are and good luck - and if it isn't cancer - do not go back to chewing tobacco - consider this a heads up.