| Joined: May 2012 Posts: 1 Member | OP Member Joined: May 2012 Posts: 1 | How common is oral cancer in young people? I'm an 19 year old college student. I was at a sports physical when the physician told me she saw what looked like HPV warts on my tonsils a few weeks ago. She referred me to an ENT who I visit on Tuesday... I now have a swollen lymph node under my jaw and a sore throat. I'm really panicked. I've never touched tobacco but I've had multiple sex partners over the past two years- I may be overreacting, but I know this isn't normal. I'm never sick, and have never had a swollen lymph node before. My dental health is perfect. Does this sound like it could be something else? | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 25 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: May 2012 Posts: 25 | Well it's impossible for you not to worry - our minds are funny that way. I would, however, advise you not to jump to any conclusions until you have seen and spoken with the ENT. We have loads of lymph nodes throughout our bodies and cancer is not the only thing that could cause them to become swollen. Sometimes our lymph nodes are swollen and we don't even realize it (I mean, it's not like we all regularly spend time feeling our lymph nodes). I would just say that you try to remain calm - I know it's difficult not to be freaked out but being freaked out isn't going to help you. Keep in mind that your emotional state can affect your health so just try to be patient - difficult as that may seem. Because patience is not my strength, I can tell you that worrying and freaking out isn't going to get you answers any sooner, it just makes the time between now and then feel like torture so rather than torture yourself, just take a few deep breaths and decide to be patient. I haven't been on this forum long at all but I'm pretty sure that no one here would presume to diagnose you. I think most here would tell you something along the lines of what I have said. Think positive and let us know what you find out - hopefully it will turn out to be nothing major. Carpe Diem!! 38, non-smoker, otherwise perfect health. Biopsy: 3/8/2012, SCC Dx Right Underside Tongue: 3/12/2012, Surgery: 4/11/2012 Partial Gloss + Neck Dissection to remove 29 nodes (all clear). No Rads or Chemo req'd. I believe my SCC was caused by product used in dental work.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Ryan, welcome to OCF. I would suggest you do your best to remain calm. Getting upset is not at all helpful. Find an ENT who deals with alot of oral cancer patients. Get a good exam. A swollen lymph node could be from an infection. HPV is something that is a very common disease. For most people it will clear on its own but others it will stick around. That does not mean it will cause you ill health effects. Only a very small percentage of those diagnosed with HPV+ will ever also be diagnosed with oral cancer. One important tool many young people have available to help prevent ever being diagnosed with the strains of HPV which cause most cancers is to get vaccinated. There are vaccines available for both boys and girls who are under the age of 26. Please get yourself checked out and if you are not HPV+, get the series of shots. It might just save your life one day. It could protect you from having to deal with several HPV+ illnesses. Hope your throat turns out to be nothing serious. Best wishes! Best wishes! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | Just be proactive. If, and only if, and it probably isn't...but if it is oc, it can be quite aggressive. Just get on it quickly and get a biopsy!! Please keep in touch. Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to: Kevin age:53 Dx 7/15/11 HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R Non smoker, casual drinker 7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11 PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11 Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14 | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hi and welcome, in answer to your question, hopefully it's not cancer - it really could be nothing, but sadly you are not too young. Whie there is a certain demographic that makes up a large potion of cancer sufferers anyone can get it - that sad- its probably not!
Good luck, and to get in see a qualified ENT.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 47 "OCF across the pond" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | "OCF across the pond" Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 47 | She said it looked like? Obviously your mind now starts working over time. Get it checked out and it might be a local infection with tempory swollen Lymph node. I am 53 but feel 19. You have definitley found the right site for advice.Find out and get it fixed if you have too. I am maybe 2 weeks a head of you. talk to people even if it turns out to be HPV and Lymph node these are very treatable condtions.
21st March squall cells.Endescopy not oesophagus, ENT .April endo nose CAT MRI general Panendoscopy prim-HPV 16 base of left tongue one node-stage 2.23rd of May.14/5/12 9 teeth out.8/6/12 PICC inserted.11/6/12 1st Chemos 25/6/12 2nd Chemo Cisplatin5FU:27/6/12 PEG23/8/12 Radiation finished 1/9/12.
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,168 Posts196,927 Members13,104 | Most Online458 Jan 16th, 2020 | | | |