does anybody kow how I can get tested for oral cancer? I have no insurance. I have had a sore throat for some time now but the seriousness of the issue has always been misguided due to blaming it on crappy tonsils. I have had pain atw mid neck, I get these spells where throat burns to breathe in and now its gotten serious. Since I moved back home to Fl. My left lymph node on the side or back of neck has been swollen sending sharp pains to back of neck. Then my tonsils began looking even more ugly. swollen. crypted. mucousy. whitish. red bumps on back wall of throat. red patches still there. and white "injected" pus in the walls . on top of that two days ago the papillae on the back f my tounge was really swollen and painful and it felt like glassto swallow. now ive gotwhite bumps or swollen taste buds traveling anteriorly down my tounge. spicy food which I love burns my tounge too much to eat now. I had an encounter with someone with HPV a few years ago and did have relations with him underestimating the severity and lacked all education on the subject as far as oral anything goes. Anyway... since then ive had "crappy tonsils".
I don't have insurance. I am staying temporarily in south Fl. until I can get onmy feet. I live in the mid west and confused my throat problems with paranoid assumptions. I ended up getting a spinal tap in an er for viral meningitis. Again I did not know enough about it.. got it done, and went back with a worse h/a. They told me I needed a blood patch. Blood from the arm to seal a leak in spinal fluid to clog it and relieve the headache.
what worries me is if its cancer did I just move it to my spine?
Also how will I ever get diagnosed without insurance? Given the bmps on my tounge, and my throat being the wayit is my lymph swollen should I try to go to the er? If so,.. Should there be a specific er I should be going? '
I don't have much time before I have to make x amount of money to get back to the mid west to appear in court... shouldn't be jail time though.. unless I don't show. PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLsss any one help me, again I don't have insurance or money and on a deadline and probably running out of time too

I am afraid I have oral cancer. I have been having symptoms of sore throat almost three yrs. Blamed it on crappy tonsils this whole time. The started observing the tonsils and throat about 6 mo agao. Saw red patches on back wall of throat. Others (doctors neve seem to notice it) granted the are small How could I know there not suppose to be there and them professionals don't? So I remembered was with someone about three yrs ago and the had HPV or hsv 1 or 2 I wasn't sure. So I googled it and found my throat looked exactly like the HPV oral cancer picture and found out my ex partner had HPV. Last 3 weeks, My left lymph node toward back neck has been swollen. Tonsils and cheeks have a whitish color about them. Throatextremely sore. THe papillae or bumps in the back of my tounge the other night was sore I could n't roll the tongue without extreme tenderness. I did go through bouts of very drymouth. shortness of breath and headaches where my "soft spot" is. Now bumps on tounge traveling base to front on surface of tonue an is tender. I HAVE NO INSURANCE AND CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO DO A BIOPSIE BECAUSE I JUST MOVED HERE, DO NOT QUALIFYFOR MEDICAID, AND NO INCOME. I need to get a coupe biopsies tongue, lymph, and throat probably a tonsillectomy, and I am scardley awaiting a very late late cancer related diagnostic. I do want to better my chances to live though. I love life and my family. My life. So Please anyone in Fl or anywhere that knows anywhere I can go in South FLorida for help since I don't have insurance obtain a diagnosis asap, please please let me know

Hi Cynthia,

Everyone here knows the anxiety you're feeling. The prospect of cancer is a very scary thing! This site is a great resource and support.

Having been in a similar situation (no $$$, no insurance) when I had my 1st heart attack and subsequent heart surgery, I sought treatment, knowing it would bury me financially and it did, BUT I'm ALIVE!

I'm not sure of the laws but I was told at the hospital that I could not be refused treatment due to lack of insurance (it was a community hospital). There should be some clinics where you can at least be seen by a doctor and get an idea of what's going on in your mouth and throat. I don't know the details of Florida's social services but many states offer medical services for those with no income. It's worth checking out.

Best case scenario, it's nothing to be concerned with and you owe a few hundred dollars for your peace of mind. The worse case is it's serious, you go into debt and have to file a bankruptcy. What's more important... your credit score or your life? Believe me, I know the answer to that question.

Make some calls. Seek some help. What other choice is there?

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

Welcome Cynthia,

You are doing right by having anything suspicious that has not gone away in several weeks to see a doctor about. It could be anything, leukoplakia, which white plaque with 4% chance of progressiing to cancer, erythroplakia, red velvety, is more of a chance transforming to cancer, if it is, than a biopsy is needed, or could be enlarged papillae, or a bacterial, fungal or viral infevtion, and hundreds of other medical conditiond that can cause these signs and symtoms. If you smoke, you should stop, and that usually causes some conditions to correct itself, and reduces your risk of cancer. The same with any self prescribed vitamins or herbs.

By age 25, 90% of the population has been exposed to an HPV. There are over 150 different types, most are not high risk, and about 14 high risk ones, mainly HPV-16, which may cause oropharyngeal cancer, mainly tonsil, and BOT in 1% of the population. If you are 26 or under from age 9, you can get the HPV vaccine that covers HPV-6, 11, 16, 18.

As T advised, see a clinic or community hospitals that serve the uninsured or underinsured. Most hospitals work out paying arrangements too. Check U.S. News a report best hospitals 2013, for Cancrt and ENT, ear nose throat. There are many in South Florida. Call them, and see what type of patient programs are offered.

Who told you your need all these procedures? It's best not to self diagnosis even with Dr. Google. Let the real doctor do that. You can read up on oral/oropharyngeal cancer at the opening page, which has information on just about everything involving this disease.

Good luck with everything.

Your symptoms could be anything. Any sore thats in your mouth for 2 weeks of longer should be checked by a professional. Please seek out the services of an ENT. You do not want finances to determine your fate.

I suggest getting a good old fashioned phone book and searching thru the blue pages. The section where you can find your local human services agencies. You may even have to go sit in the welfare office to get assistance but they have the resources and knowledge of whats available in your local community. Have you called your local hospital? They may have a charity dept that can help you.

Best wishes!

Check the County that you are now living in and get registered for free health care assuming you qualify. Once you are approved then ask for an "out of network referral" to Moffitt. As you can imagine this can take some time so start making calls NOW. Even if you do not qualify for County assistance call Moffitt anyway and tell them your financial situation.

Thank you so much for replying to me.. i know there are services i can apply for but because im new to town i have to re-establish residency sinc in a new town from before. The town im from offers nothing at all. Have to wait at least 90 days to prove residence with mailing records. i am scared. tjis has been going on a lot longer than since jan. the fact that now i hace sores or bumos on my tongue and it burns esp eating mildly hot food scares me more. I had a blood patch for a spinal headache in march and my symptoms date back before march. my cyst could be from current infection or something from the blood entering the spinal canal to patch the cerebral spinal fluid leak. omg if i have neoplasms in my blood im screwed .........do u know anything about cancer cells in the blood?

Ty so much for ur reply. I have been trying to call anyone and everyone even ents i cannot afford to just get my foot in the door and perhaps get them to put me on a payment plan.. so far i am not having too much luck getting a specialist. i wish i had money then i wouldnt look half as. i am so scared. especially about this but then even more so if i injected neoplasms in my back for the epidural blood patch. could be why i have the cyst and auch a bad reaction to such a common procedure. i really jope i didnt inject a disease in my cerebral spinal fluid..... do u know about cancer cells in the blood?

I did that. i have to wait 30 more days before i get amik 30 prior to being here and mail within the 30 days after to apply for a program called moped in broward county. then its a 30 wait to see if i qualify and another 30 to book an appt.. i have an appt on june 2to see a doct but its low income and im really hoping hell send me to someone who can perform a biopsie.. if he deems it neccessary.. keeping all fingers and toes crossed cause if not im square one.... i just know this has been a chronic condition thats been worsening. i had an appt one day before i moved here fron mo kansas citu and had no choice but to leave. 3 mo i waiyed for that appt. do u know about neoplasms in the blood? I am terrified that that may be why i have a huge spinal arachmoid cyst post my blood patch now. papain and chronic front and back headaches due to the cyst formation ( low pressure). They can be secondary to foriegn invaders, such as currsnt infection or disease. i did not know not to do it.

Perhaps go to a ER that will not refuse you without insurance. Perhaps once they see you they have a program that will apply to you. Do not give up. As soon as one of my employees gets to work today I will ask her if she has any ideas. She's great at finding holes in public systems.