Hi guys i just noticed this wierd spot on my left cheek and was wonderding what you guys think it could be. I am a smoker of 10 years and drink every once in a while. I have been trying to quit for a while but havnt pulled through, after seeing this im for sure going to get rid of the habit. im really freaking out right now. thanks guys.

Any mouth sore that has been there for 2-3 weeks and has not healed on its own should be checked by a professional. By "professional", I am referring to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) who specializes in treating oral cancer (OC) patients. Not that I think you have anything serious going on. I hope you do NOT!!! The doc could make an educated guess, but its still just a guess. Theres so many different mouth conditions that look alike its not possible for even the most educated and/or experienced doctor to diagnose anyone by looking at the spot. An experienced ENT will need a biopsy to tell exactly what the sore is. A very small tissue sample is taken and sent to the lab for technicians to examine and make the determination of what it is. Very likely, it could be several weeks until you get to the bottom of what you have going on in your mouth.

Anyone can at any time have a wide variety of mouth sores, spots, red areas, white patches, etc. Im . sure you want to give your mouth time to get better. Some of the mouth issues cause pain, others do not hurt at all, they come and go frequently they're unnoticed. Usually the spot/sore will heal and disappear on its own. For smokers, continuing to smoke will only make the spot harder to heal. All those cancer causing chemicals and additives are irritants to sensitive mouth tissue.

But for smokers, all the cancer causing chemical additives poisons Mouth sores are more common for smokers. No matter what the "spot" turns out to be, PLEASE do yourself a big favor and stop using all forms of tobacco. Let this scare be the wake-up call you need to motivate you to quit smoking... permanently!!! Quitting is NOT easy but its one of the very best things you can do for yourself. Its definitely not easy, if you find and use what motivates you to quit and have your mind made up you are quitting then you will be successful.

Maybe my being a former smoker will also help motivate you.... Im passing along info from my own experience, I am a former smoker. About 2 weeks after hearing the shocking news, I was on my way to a consult with a gastro doctor. My original doctor told me I should look into getting a feeding tube (another thing Id never heard of!) which was overwhelming to me. Being a nervous wreck, I had not yet given up smoking but I had cut back significantly. As I was driving down the highway, I was reaching for my pack of cigarettes to have a smoke before the consult. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my son watching me with a sad look on his face. Never before had I been hit all at once with a million hard realizations of my situation and what I had done to my family. Right then and there I said to my son... "Thats it!!! I quit". He seemed confused and asked what I meant. "I hate to say this but I now know what I will die of one day... cancer. I dont have to make it any sooner by smoking. I quit, I will never smoke another cigarette in my life" I said. My son was not convinced and said "I hope you really mean that mom and that you will stop smoking". Then I did something I never do... I threw the entire pack and lighter right out the window and told my son "you just watch and see, as of right now I have quit smoking, for good!" I'll never forget that moment when I understood I caused my own cancer and for a mother who always puts her kids first, smoking was putting their lives in jeopardy. What would become of my children if I wouldnt survive, if I quit smoking too late? Oh the guilt!!!! Fast forward past several years of smoking related horrendous health issues, I can proudly say I quit smoking over 12 years ago. I'll never forget that day when the light bulb finally went on giving me clarity plus an in depth understanding of the entire situation and how it affected my children. I can hope you have this same awakening giving you the motivation to quit smoking ... for good!

Sorry about getting side tracked with my story!!! Wishing you all the best with getting to the bottom of what your mouth sore could be. Check with your insurance company to find the right type of ENT. You do NOT want to be examined by an ENT who mostly sees children and deals with putting tubes in kids ears. Please let us know how you make out. Good luck!!


PS... Im sorry but the mouth sore picture wasnt needed so I removed it. OCF members are oral cancer patients/survivors and caregivers who wouldnt know the visual difference between a cancerous tumor vs a non-cancerous tumor. We are just regular people without any proper medical training to be able to diagnose anyone over the internet. We dont have years of medical school, clinical patient experience, a patients full health history, the patient right in front of us to examine and ask questions of... not that any those things could help us know what a spot on a photo is.