PaulB thanks for the clarification i thought that a biopsy entailed removing tissue from the actual lump otherwise whatever tissue would comeback benign and that was my concern and led to my belief that the biopsy was not reliable. also the lump is white in color n ive been given medication for acid reflux everytime i visit a specialist they attribute the cause of the lesion to acid reflux.

Thanks for replying

YW. Now you have a diagnosed condition to work on, GERD, gastroesophogeal reflux disease, aka acid reflux, which is caused by many things, is often reversible, and should keep you busy. Good luck.

In regards to the ear pain, I had unexplained ear pain in my left ear for a really long time prior to my diagnosis, but it was unrelated to my cancer (different period of time). I had a specialist check it out, and he couldn't really find a reason for it.
Also, I think if you had the spot for such a long period of time, by this time a doctor would definitely be able to identify it if it looked like cancer; I ignored my lesion for a while (started out pre-cancerous lukoplake and eventually developed into cancer), and when I finally saw a dentist about a year after the original symptoms started he (and the oral surgeon who took my biopsy) immediately was pretty certain it was cancer, and I didn't even suggest/suspect that's what it was.

Hopefully you can get some peace of mind!

PaulB thanks for the reply in regards to gerd and acid reflux im taking care of that they prescribed omeprazol and other medications such as dexilant...thank you

emilyp thank you for the reply and youre correct and thats what stuns me that the oral surgeon just took a look at it and said oh its not cancer it doesnt look like it is just as other 4 Ent had done so previously ive been having it since i last noticed it for about 6 months now and it still there what bothers me is the ear pain and throat pain that happen ever so often i mentioned these symptoms to them and said it could be caused by some other condition such as acid reflux but i dont understand why its unilateral to the side where the lump is...I cant sleep at night thinking I have cancer and cant get a proper diagnosis and ive been trying to find out what this is since i first noticed the lump hence the earlier you catch it the better but with these doctors im pretty much frustrated....

Thanks for the reply it's much appreciated

Hi, Just wanted you to know I had every oral cancer symptom in the book much like yours but w/out a specific lump...felt like a piece of glass lodged in my throat....saw 13 doctors...in the hospital 2x due to pain...2 teeth removed, and countless tests. Not Cancer, but what it is??? 13 doctors and no one knows. Over the span of 4 months, the symptoms are very slowly going away. No diagnosis and frustration doesn't begin to describe my life. I've just decided that I don't have oral cancer and have to live with the remaining neck/ear/throat pain, until it mysteriously goes away OR blows up into something recognizable to lackadaisical doctors. I feel for you, and hope you can close that door for the time being. You don't want to lose all that time worrying, perhaps for nothing. Good luck!

2nd time thanks for the reply
Yeah its very frustrating all the specialists ive seen tell me that it is not cancer and that im overthinking the situation and stressing myself out but theyre not experiencing the pain, it does not affect them directly...the fact that they look at the lump and i mention having it for over five months coupled with all the symptoms ear pain throat pain tooth sensibility chest pain etc. and they just say its acid reflux that it is not cancer concerns me... The last ENT i saw at the hospital i took him cat scans of my throat i sat there spoke to him for half an hour explained everything i told him that i just wanted to rule out the possibility of this being cancer. He then proceeded to feel it with his fingers looked at the back of my throat performed a laryngoscopy and said that he was absolutely certain it is not oral cancer that i had to relax i was killing myself with all the stress and frustration i asked why the symptoms and again he said it was acid reflux and that my throat box was completely irritated...He said that i had to live my life and stop worrying soo much that he almost felt as if the only way i would relax was if i was told i had cancer which i found absolutely absurd...he also mentioned that he sees approximately 10 to 15 patients with oral cancer on a daily basis and what i had looked nothing similar to the other cases.....
Thus the title of my thread dont know what to do anymore im frustrated.....
Thanks you offer some relief to my anxiety and iam forever greatful for it.....

Does the lesion itself cause pain? Both times I was diagnosed it was a difficult process and the only thing that finally confirmed a diagnosis was an excisional biopsy of the lump. In both cases, the lump itself was BIZARRELY PAINFUL and in my opinion could not be ignored any longer. My advice is "follow the pain", but if the lump/lesion itself is not painful and you are experiencing symptoms that come and go, perhaps it is something else. Follow the pain. Good luck.

Donna

Dez,

I can't speak for everyone, but my experience with ENT's, and my dentist was that they took a look at (without blood tests, biopsy, or any other diagnostic tool), and knew it was cancer. The only one who missed it was GP, so if that many ENT's are looking at it and telling you it's not cancer, you need to dance a jig. The rest of us were not so lucky.

I realize this doesn't address your pain issues, and a lack of diagnosis of what the problem is really, is frustrating, but if I were you I would simply be counting my lucky stars that it is not cancer.

Pandora99 thanks for the reply
the lump itself or lesion does not cause any pain, at times however i get a burning sensation...aside from that it just sits there...I had an excisional biopsy done but i felt as if the ENT did not perform it correctly hence the lump is still there she removed tissue around the edges and nearby but did not remove the actual lump and thats my concern and frustration...The ear pain and chest pain comes and goes i could be fine for like three days and then it will begin to hurt and the process repeats itself...and lately its been getting worst but all the 6 ENT's ive seen say its acid reflux....

thanks again
feli

Tina thank you for the reply i appreciate it
I understand what you mean it is just extremely frustrating due to the fact that I experience the ear pain chest pain throat pain all the signs indicative of oral cancer and the pain is unilateral to the side of the lesion/lump and despite all of this they insist and assure me that it is not cancer with great certainty some just by looking at it...and so i say to them what is it?

but then again the acid reflux medication they prescribe does nothing to ease my pain nor does it get rid of the lump which ive had for over five months since i noticed it...the most weird symptom i have is this crack in my neck like a snap of some sort when i cringe i can hear it it's weird......

everytime i visit a specialist and im told that it is not cancer i get a sense of hope and comfort yet once i begin to feel the pain and symptoms the frustration and constant what ifs? resurface causing great stress and uncertainty in my life i just dislike that soo much time has passed and it doesnt seem to get any better and without an accurate diagnosis i cant do much and visiting these specialists is costly at times i feel as if im wasting my time and money searching for an answer they cant find themselves. I just pray it is not cancer.

thank you
Tina