Today I went for a routine cleaning, and the dentist noticed three white spots on the lower left side of my tongue. He said to come back in 2 weeks, and if it is not gone, he will send me to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. Having been through many rather major medical "run arounds," and my mother having been diagnosed with metastasis of pancreatic cancer last week (2.5 years after original diagnosis and tx, which is a LONG time for this disease), I am reluctant to spend two weeks waiting to see if it goes away. I am thinking that I should make an appt. for the biopsy, which will probably take a few weeks to get, and I can always cancel if the spots go away.

I have a few questions. First, it seems from reading a few posts here that I should skip the oral surgeon and see an ENT??? Also, I am fairly close to Hopkins, so should I find an ENT there? Is there an ENT that specializes in cancer? Any recommendations for a specific doc?

I don't want to panic, but I figure that I would rather hit the ground running than wait and regret lost time. Also, if I can land myself at the right doctor from the beginning, it will reduce stress later if it turns out that it is something that needs treatment.

Thanks for any advice.

Johns Hopkins is one of the best if not the best hospital for head and neck cancer in the US. I live in PA and have been to a number of hospitals and doctors in the northeast including Johns Hopkins. I will send you the name of my ENT at Hopkins in a PM (personal message). If it does turn out to be oral cancer (and I pray that it doesn�t) I would highly recommend that you go to Hopkins for treatment.

The white spots could be a number of things besides cancer. Generally most doctors/dentists will advise you to wait 2 weeks to see if the �spots� go away before they do a biopsy. And the first stop for that is usually an oral surgeon; however, after my cancer diagnosis my ENTs (have had 2) said they wished I would have gone there first! Can�t win! The only way to confirm that it is cancer is via a biopsy.

Depending on the doctor it does take time to schedule an appointment, but from my experience once cancer is diagnosed they tend to get you an appointment sooner especially if the doctor�s office makes the call requesting that you be seen ASAP.

I hope this turns out to be nothing, but if it does you�ve found the best place for information and support.

Any sore you have in your mouth that does not go away by itself within 2 or 3 weeks needs to be checked by a professional. Most mouth sores resolve themselves. At any time the average person can get irritations in their mouth. Most often this is nothing to be concerned about which is why you should wait to see if it clears up on its own before running to a professional. If you are uneasy about waiting, make an appointment so you can get in at the end of 2 weeks. A doctor probably will want to know you have waited the 2 weeks and it didnt heal on its own before they will do anything else anyway.

Even if you go to the ENT, they may send you over to an oral surgeon for the biopsy. Not all ENTs will do a biopsy. Just make sure whatever ENT you go to that they are familiar with oral cancer and other mouth issues. Some ENTs specialize in putting tubes in children's ears which is very different than what you need them for.

Hope it turns out to be nothing serious. Good luck!!!

Thank you both for your replies. I am planning to call on Monday, make the appt. for two weeks from now, knowing I can cancel if it goes away. However, it is not "a sore," rather 3 white spots, with one looking more "elevated" than the other two, but they are sort of in a line just under the edge of my tongue. They do not hurt - I would not have known they were there if not for the exam. I am prone to canker sores, so I know it is definitely not that.

I tend to be a bit aggressive about my health care. Twenty years ago I was poo-pooed by doctors for 4 months and given Advil and muscle relaxers, when what I really needed was brain surgery. As a result, I have permanent spinal cord damage and no reflexes in my left arm. So I would rather push doctors with this and find out it is nothing (I hope) than wait for appts. (which usually result in waiting for more tests and appts!!) and find out that it is a problem and I could have been treated sooner.

What were the symptoms that led to your diagnoses? Since I don't have "symptoms" per se, I am optimistic. It looks from your signatures that you have been through a harrowing ordeal. Thank you for offering your support and knowledge here! I hope that you are cancer free for the future!
Maureen

Hello. I am wondering about the reality of treatment for throat cancer when far from home. Johns Hopkins appears to be the best but would require finding short term housing and am as yet unsure of the care that will be needed. Any advice would be appreciated.

Maureen --

Your situation sounds very similar to my husband's -- his dentist noticed a white patch that hadn't been there at a previous cleaning and sent him to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. We were lucky in that the oral surgeon has a special interest in oral pathology so really knew what he was doing (some just pull wisdom teeth and such -- sort of like not going for cancer treatment to an ENT whose main work is putting in ear tubes).

In fact, it was the oral surgeon who read between the lines on the pathology report (which came back as showing dysplasia, but with some red flags in the language) and pushed for a full excisional biopsy by an ENT, which came back showing SCC in situ. At that point my husband started being seen by a cancer specialist at Hopkins, who determined that no further treatment was necessary because it had been caught so early.

Wishing you all the best.

Hi there to answer you yes..l see an ENT - Hopkins is one of the best (I've heard of it and I'm Canadian) do be vigilant and aggressive with your own medical care - I certainly am. I had issues with my tongue for 4 years! And was poo pooed and even got a negative biopsy when there was definitely cancer insitu (it was below the surface dr. Didn't go deep enough) - 2 years later I was dx'd with ca - by another dr. The problem with health care is they are reactive not proactive. I go see my dr show him a concern say on my tongue or gum, the first thing he does after looking at it is feel my nodes... Hello... I want it dealt with before it has a chance to move! anyway my point is advocate for yourself!! And push. And to the other poster Lescol - they have lodges you can stay in if from out of town, I'm not sure if it's week days only or for a full stay (7 days a week) but look into it. One member took a small apartment or room close to the hospital. For a month or so. Hugs and best of luck to you both.