Hi! I'm so glad to have found this site. My father had oral cancer, as did his sister, so it runs in our family. He was a 'recreational smoker'- abt 1/2 pk a week for abt 5yrs. He quit 24yrs before his first lesion popped up. HE lost his fight at age 57-18 yrs ago. His sister didnt smoke at all. He drank wine at night(Italian) altho his sister rarely drank. She recently passed after a 2 yr fight. Her diagnosis was at age 65. So as you can tell we are very aware of any little change in our mouths-not so much we're crazy abt it-but we keep up with our regular check ups and do as much as we can to promote good oral health and not add to the odds against us. I'm 45 yrs old and have recently found a white spot on the left side of my throat-on the soft pallet above the tonsil area. I pushed on it thinking it was a tonsil stone and would pop out but no such luck. It doesnt hurt-and it doesnt feel too hard. It's been there about 2 - 3 months, and it has gotten a little bigger. I thought maybe it was a scratch from a potatoe chip or something and that it would heal itself. No such luck in the 'healing itself back to normal skin color' department. I was due for a cleaning so made a dentist appointment in 12 days. I know the dentist found my father's cancer and referred him to a specialist, but is this the right place to start? Am I concerned over nothing? I also smoked for abt 3 yrs-less than a pack a week and quite abt 22 yrs ago. I very rarely drink.
Thank you in advance for any help and information you can share!

Onespicymeatball

First, welcome to OCF. Im sorry to read about the loss of your aunt and your father. Im not sure how much of a role genetics plays in oral cancer.

A sore that is there for longer than 2 weeks should be checked out. You were right to see your dentist so they can take a good look at it. Your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon or an ENT for a biopsy. The way to tell if its cancer is thru a biopsy. Besides smoking and drinking, oral cancer can also be caused by HPV and for a very few, there is no known cause.

Congrats on being smoke free! Quitting is not an easy thing.

Hang in there and try not to worry. If you need a biopsy, by the time you get the appointment til the results come back, it could be a few weeks.

Christine has said the most important info to you already. Listen to her and get the biopsy. I am one in the few range as my OC has an unknown cause and termed unique. Good luck and I have you in the prayers for a negative report.

I noticed a red spot in the same area, caught it early and am doing well 6 months after treatment (radiation only). I would see if the dentist could refer you directly to an ENT. They are best suited for a biopsy in this area.

I would also try and move the Dental appointment up. If you need the referal, it might be a bit before an ENT can see you.

Best of luck with the dentist, hope it's something easily treatable.

ChristineB,EzJim,Kelly211:
Thank you all very much for your kind and encouraging words and praayersfor negative reports. EzJim, my father was like you-unknown cause. I want you all to know I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers--you can never have too many of them!!

Today I called the Dentist office to shared the info regarding the white spot on the pallet. The recpt. called me back and moved my cleaning appt. up sooner to a day the dentist will be in the office to check me out. I think what Im hearing from you is that I can expect to be biopsied and that would be the proper course to take at the point. I was tested for HPV abt 14 yrs ago for IVF and was negative. I'm not a "panick and blow it out of proportion" type of girl, but if I said I wasnt concerned I'd be lying. BUT-I know theres nothing I can do until I know what this is, or isnt. So Im off to the dentist-and wondering what else this white thing may be.I hope im doing no harm when I poke at it. Ikeep thinking it has gunk int here somewhere and if I poke it'll release and be gone-go back to it's normal color. No such luck.

Thanks again for your help & I'll keep you all posted when I see the dentist.

Onespicymeatball

Meatball,

I took the same attitude you are in that I insisted on knowing what my spot was through three doctors before being correctly diagnosed. The best patient advocate is yourself. This could be any number of things, but keep in mind that as long as it persists, you should persist in finding out what is causing it.

Best of luck.

Let's see what the dentist says. He may very well refer you to an ENT to do the bio.

Kelly211,ChristineB,EzJim, davidcpa: Dentist referred me to ENT. He said I'd prob needed a biospy & he refers all his ppl to this ENT; he deals mostly w/this type of thing. Am scheduled for 4/30.(next Fri) ENT's nurse called me to get some further info to share w/the dr...she'll call me back Monday to get me in sooner. So. looks like its a go next week. Im sure it will all work out. I just dont know what to expect from this biopsy. Can anyone share their exxperience w/me? What does it entail(needle or cutting it out?) Will he know anything immediately or will I have to wait for him to send it out and find out 4-5 days later? Thanks for all your advice and info. Onespicy

Onespicy,

I had a biopsy in the same location. My doctor took two small plugs (less than 1/8 in.)he numbed the area and then took the biopsy in the office. He gave me a script for the same pain meds you get with a dental procedure and I went home.

Felt as annoying as a one stitch dental procedure. I did not have any problems eating that night.

I was told the pathology takes a minimum of 72 hrs and my doc put a priority on my test and I had my answer on day three. Others have had to wait as long as two weeks.

I knew I had something drastially wrong but had to wait until it was confirmed by a biopsy. I hated being told it was OC and didn't even know what that meant until that day. Like the rest, I am alive and can still smile and try to act tough. LOL.. Really I am a whimp.

Thanks for the info Kelly--its a huge help. They got me in to see the ENT tomorrow; I was told to expect the biopsy. (the dentist took a picture and sent it to the ENT) The way you described it was similar to the way it was explained to me this morning. Results would take abt 5-7 days but he's seeing me tomorrow and putting a 'STAT' on the results so he can get them before the weekend.

EzJim--you're no wimp--lol. Anyone who goes thru what you did and can come out with a smile and sense of humor is a hero in my book. Unfortunately I know all too well the perils of this disease and what it can do (my father). I don't let that cloud my emotions. And everyone is different. It's all good. This may very well be a pocket of gunk. Hopefully Ill know for sure by the weekend.