I have been really worried and stressed for over a month , I have been having a white coated tongue for 6 weeks its completely white I have a small swollen lymph node in my neck for 4 weeks now (not painful) and slight ear pain in my left ear for 2 weeks...I've been treated for oral thrush twice and no response.I'm worried because symptoms seem to getting worse and not better...I've seen several doctors 8 total ,one doctor said thrush, second said smokers tongue, third said thursh , fourth said viral infection,fifth said its nothing,ent doctor said on first visit its normal and a lot of people get it, dentist said its from smoking...but what about my other symptoms they can't explain ...I'm really uneasy about all these different reasons and my regular doctor did tons of blood work so its not an infection...my ent won't do biopsy on white tongue ...I made an appointment at another Ent but am I going in the right direction?? What else could be wrong and would I have swelling and ear pain???I tried calling cancer center in philly and nyc Sloans Kettering and Ccc but they won't see me until I have been disgnosed..I need some help...please be nice with replies???

Have you tried mixing some baking soda with water, don't know what the proportion is, I just know by now, you don't need lots. Try 1/2 tsp in 4-6 oz water. Swish it around in your mouth, if you can get a piece of gauze, dip it in the mix and wash your tongue off, see if you can get the regular look of your tongue back, even temporarily.
Could be bacteria. Don't know about your lymph node, how long?

Number one thing though if you are concerned about oral cancer, or any cancer really, is to stop smoking. There's help out there, find a way. It'll hurt your nerves at first, but go a long way to giving you more peace of mind later on.

Best,
Anne

It's my medical opinion that it's smokers tongue as you smoke, you probably drink alcohol (studies show the majority of people that smoke cigarrettes also drink) and like the general population walk around dehydrated and breath through your mouth(all causes of white tonge per the Mayo Clinic, link below). Now I'm not a Dr, but I've played one in my 9th grade drama class and my IQ score on the Stanford-Binet is 15 points higher then the average surgeons so that's got to count for something right?

You're symptoms also match up with HIV (swollen lymph node, white tongue as mentioned in the link below) again, my medical opinion.

Important advice included in the links below and also my sound medical advice...see a Dr, who'll refer you to an ENT...I remember giving this same advice earlier but I've had chemo and radiation to the head so I never quite remember

http://menshealth.about.com/od/conditions/a/HIV_signs.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/white-tongue/MY01011

Eric

Wow you assume HIV??that's alittle harsh...FYI for u I've been tested for that the reason I'm not concerned with that...I've read all of the possible causes several times and none add up with my symptoms and the amount of time I've had them..please be alittle patient with me..I'm sure you know doctors aren't always right espeically when they are just looking at you and not running test...do you believe my symptoms are all mad up???I can upload pics of my tongue and I know how I feel which I've never before...I was reffered to this site by a friend and she said I would find help and answers here but you've been very mean to me..sorry if I've been a bother to anyone

Okay do me a favor - go to the health food store (whole foods) buy a jar of pure manuka honey 16+ - after each meal - take a small teaspoon full - put it in your mouth - let it melt - hold it there - swish it around for about a minute to two - do this for a few days! (you can swallow it) The manuka is not cheap can run up to about 20 dollars - it is all natural and natures version of hydrogen peroxide - it is anti- inflammatory, anti fungal, and cleans remarkably well - I had a few white Patches on my tongue post treatment I asked my dr for anti thrush meds - he said I had it in my magic mouth wash which I was using ( and wasn't helping ) two days with the honey cleared it up - since yours seems more involved it may take a but longer but try it - while you are busy trying to get a second opinion. Good luck -

Trese, I looked at your posts and I don't think anyone has been mean to you. The people here have gone through some of the worst hell that anyone can go through. They are the most supportive people you would ever encounter. Once you get that second opinion from an ENT, and if he/she tells you that it is not oral cancer, rejoice! The folks here are trying to reassure you. Good luck, and hopefully the next ENT will rest your mind.

Trese,

I think the odds of you having HIV is about the same as you having oral cancer.

You know what we tell people everyday on these forums? If you have something in your mouth that concerns you get it checked by an ENT. If you don't like what they tell you, get a second opinion. If you have any specific symptoms that were oral cancer related (lymph nodes, white patches on tongue etc..) the advice would be....wait for it...get checked by an ENT and if you don't like their opinion get a second opinion.

We also say on these forums that it's NOT oral cancer until a biopsy says it is, no matter what a CT/PET scan or MRI says, no matter what who your Dr is. You've been to 8 Dr's and an ENT, who say it's nothing, you want a biopsy to ease your mind (which I doubt will) so get one from your second ENT, they are still going to need an area they are concerned about to biopsy that presents like cancer.

Even if you uploaded pictures nobody here is Dr. House M.D. or Sherlocke Holmes, Perry Mason or even Nancy Drew (my favorite) we can't help you anymore until AFTER YOU KNOW IT'S CANCER. When you know it's cancer we can use our vast experience to help you cope...but we're not Dr's.

Now if you ever get to know me, you'll understand that it's not just you I enjoy mocking, I mock everyone equally...even myself.

In all seriousness, stop already, put it out of your mind and get the second opinion, if an ENT can't answer your questions or ease your mind there's nobody here that will be able to either.

That would be reason talking...just in case you missed it...

Hi Trese,

Manuka honey really is a great thing to try. It works on all sorts of things. Maybe that will get your tongue to return to a normal color. My tongue gets a bit of a white-ish cast when I'm dehydrated. Very few of us drink enough water. Might be worth a try.

I'm worried about your ear pain you mentioned in your other post and the swollen lymph node. Cancer doesn't always show up on the surface. Many times it is deep inside the tonsils, or other tissues and structures.

Here's the process we went through.

My ex-husband's only symptom was a swollen lymph node. His general practitioner ordered an ultrasound which told her it looked cystic. The next thing she did was ordered a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA). The FNA was negative. He was referred to an ENT. He prescribed antibiotics which caused a big downward spiral in his health--but was NOT indicative that he had cancer. He had an MRI at the end of the month he was sick. When he recovered, the ENT did a biopsy of the lymph node. Then he had a PET scan. Had he not been misdiagnosed with having cancer, it would have ended there.

When you are scared and worried, it occupies your thoughts every waking minute. I wish I could say something that would ease your mind. The only thing I can recommend is to get in to see the best ENT to whom you have access. And, if you get a cancer diagnosis, then seek a second opinion from a CCC.

However, if you get an opinion that says you are cancer-free...rejoice! Virtually every single person on this forum who has been diagnosed with cancer or cares for a patient would have loved to hear the words, "negative for cancer."...myself included. It rips your life apart. You have no alternative but to learn how to deal with a "new normal." I can't tell you the depth of my hatred for those words. The "new normal" involves a life-time of side-effects...if you are lucky.

You can bring an illness onto yourself by worrying too much. And, you can waste precious time that can be spent living and being happy. A misdiagnosis cost me nearly a year of worrying. A diagnosis costs people a life-time of it--worrying if the next scan will be positive, worrying that it will come back, etc. Sometimes the best gift we can give ourselves is the strength to quiet our fears and not give in to worry. At some point, you will need to trust what a doctor tells you. With good reason, I know very well how difficult it is to trust what a doctor says. But, at some point I had to trust.

From my experience with OC, I learned to escape the fear and worry by going to my "happy place". It really helped me and got me through 5 months of waiting for a final diagnosis. At that point it would have only gone one of two ways...cancer-free or terminal. I spent a lot of time in my "happy place"! It can help you escape a little until you get to see the next doctor.

Sending special thoughts out to you for peace, health, and great happiness.

Sandy
xoxox

I agree sandy - he really needs to get a good second opinion, the tongue to me was inconsequential but the lymph nodes and ear pain are worrisome! good luck.

Trese, ear pain is one of the early symptoms and I remember my dad mentioning it both times. He also mentioned that Pinna (the visible part of the ear) would also have tingling sensation and sometimes would go numb.

Only biopsy could confirm a cancer and if you feel that the lymph node is unusually swollen, you should have a node biopsy (Guided FNAC or excisional). If tongue is asymptomatic as per several ENT and you do have a cancer, lymph node biopsy would help confirming it.

All the best for your diagnosis.