| Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 13 Member | OP Member Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 13 | Hello there! A little background first. I signed in here last year ago asking about a white patch on the left side of my tongue. Through your advice I had a biopsy done and it came back negative. That was a relief, however I'm not completely convinced I have nothing to worry about. Especially after seeing my aunt battle this disease for years.
I still have the white patch, which rubs right up against a silver filling in my mouth. I have an appt to fix that filling of course, but am wondering what other steps you all would recommend me to take. The doctor told me that the patch is caused by some sort of irritating factor but that's not comforting. I'm afraid it'll still be there after the filling fix. My aunt was told several things when she first noticed her ulcer like the irritation could be caused by a toothpaste change/diet change etc. Then she rested on that until a lump formed in her lower jaw.
Anyway, any input/questions about my patch would be much appreciated! | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | A negative biopsy is good. It could be from rubbing on the silver filling, so see what happens once corrected. Is the white patch able to be scraped away or not, raised, is it more of an ulcer? There are many types of oral conditions, medications, substances that can be the cause, some able to be scraped off, and more of an infection, recurrent conditions that come and go, ulcers. There also could be co-infections or diseases in any situation, and not always cancer, so although one condition is identified they may not look further once one cause is found. Maybe see an ENT, ear nose throat doctor, that deals with this more often to help identify, your primary care doctor or infectious disease doctor to do blood work, cultures tests for infections, diseases. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2013 Posts: 34 | Hi Db7, due to chemo and rads 3 years ago, i am now experiencing numerous dental issues. On 12/3 I am having my upper teeth replaced with some brand new ones. The bottoms will have to wait till early next year which will need to include 20 ore and 20 post hyperbaric chamber sessions. I have a broken tooth on the bottom that sometimes my tongue rubs on. after a day or two of irritation it would get swollen and become worse. I remembered back to my days of wearing braces and bought some orthodontics wax at the drugstore and molded it around the tooth till the swelling subsided. Works great. Maybe it's worth a try and see what happens.
discovered a golf ball in my neck St.Paddy's day 2010. Dx stage 4a left tonsil ca may 2010 at 50 non smoker, moderate beer drinker HPV-16 pos. tosillectomy 9 weeks Cisplatin 35 rads nov.2010 PET NED 2011 2x PET NED 2012 2x PET Ned 3/13 Pet NED SEptember 2013 Pet uh-OH.questionable and anxious follow up pet, yup, its back. mets to sub clavivular and mediasteinum nodes biopsy positive scc. trying to figure out next step my imaginary friends think I am crazy.
| | | | 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 | Great idea about the dental wax, Tom!
You are so fortunate to have a negative biopsy! By biopsying a visible sore in your mouth and getting a negative result, that should be enough to tell you that you are ok. Everyone is different and what happened to aunt is completely different than what you are experiencing. Im sure she had other things going on which probably werent noticed until she was diagnosed. Oral cancer is not always easily found. After what happened with your aunt, Im sure it makes you suspicious but to me it sounds like you really are ok.
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: 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 | It's still there - have the tooth dealt with if it doesn't go away go back to see your ENT. Hugs
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: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | Ditto to what Chery and Christine said. You are most likely fine, but you are wise to keep a keen eye on things and be aggressive with follow up.
I wish you all the best and may you never have to utter the words oral cancer, other than helping to spread awareness!
Love in OCF, Kerri
37 y/o fem at Dx (23 wks preg @ dx on 3/16/11) SCC L oral tongue (no risk factors) L partial gloss/MND 3/28/11 @ 25 wks preg T1-2N0M0; no rads/chemo Tonsillectomy on 8/6/12 +SCC L tonsil T2-3N1M0 (HPV-) Treated with 35 rads/7 carbo & taxol (Rx ended 10/31/12), but many hospitalizations d/t complications from rx. Various scans since rx ended are NED! Part of genetic study for rare cancers @ MGH. 44 years old now...I wasn't sure I would make it! Hoping for 40 more!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 13 Member | OP Member Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 13 | Thank you very much for all of the replies! | | |
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