Hello everyone. I'm a 28-year-old female and I have been smoking for about 10 years. About 8 or 9 years ago noticed some small moving lumps on the inside of my bottom gum and they never changed or anything so I never worried about them, but about a year ago i noticed 3 more tiny bumps two on the lower inside right gum and one on the left. Though they don't seem to have grown any in the year or so since I've noticed them I've been very concerned that they could be oral cancer. They cannot be seen, only felt with my tongue or a finger. I finally got my nerve up and went to my regular doctor about them day before yesterday. He looked inside my mouth, under my tongue and said he saw nothing out of the ordinary. I told him that they aren't visible, only palpable. He looked once again and said "I still don't see anything." Then he said for me to just keep an eye on them. I told him I'd first noticed them about a year ago and he replied "well if it hasn't done anything to you in a year's time you shouldn't worry about it." But I am still worried about it. What should I do? Heed the doctor's advice or seek another opinion? Thanks.

Hi,
One of the general pieces of advice you will find on this board is that if you have a lump, red or white patch, or anything unusual in your mouth that doesn't clear up in a couple of weeks, you should see an ENT specialist to determine if anything is awry.

Given that you asked your doctor to feel the lumps and his response was that he couldn't see anything, I would strongly recommend that you see an ENT specialist. Personally, I'd change doctors as well, but that's your call. Best, Sheldon

Hi

1st you didn't say anything about your plans to STOP SMOKING. Stop worrying and see an ENT

I'd love to, but I believe that requires insurance or money, neither of which I have.

At $5.00 a pack or whatever outrageous sum they are now charging for cigarrettes, you could afford to pay the ENT in a couple of weeks just be quitting smoking.

Eileen

I would highly recommend that you see an oral surgeon for lumps related to your gums. Beg, borrow or steal to get the money for an exam. The cost of a cancer exam is well worth whatever it costs.

And by all means, QUIT SMOKING. I hope it doesn't take cancer to get you to stop.

Jerry

I think you should look around this website and read some of the stories here, then tell me you can afford not to see an ENT.

Quit smoking. I was just diagnosed with oral cancer and have had to go thru 2 surgeries to get rid of it. I was lucky and did not have to have radiation or chemo. I had to quit smoking. It is very hard, but you can do it. The patches help. The chance that you may have cancer should scare you enough for you to quit.

Good luck!!

I don't want to come across as rude, but that's how some of these posts seem to me. I'm sure that is not the case with everyone here, and it may not have been intentional, but all I asked for wasan opinion on seeing another doctor. I didn't come here to be attacked for smoking, nor do any of you have a clue about what I can and cannot afford.

Shrittah, I feel confident in speaking for everyone who has posted in saying that there was no attack intended. Smoking is the devil that helped to get a lot of us here, and not one of us doesn't wish we were your age and could make that choice and avoid all we have been through. It was not an attack, but heartfelt and passionate advice from those of us who have very clear rear view vision, who sincerely do not want anyone else to follow us. With regard to finances, where I live there is a teaching hospital/med school where patients are charged according to ability to pay. Perhaps you can check your area for med school hospitals. We all hope you do not have cancer, and at the same time want to impress upon you that if is IS cancer, waiting will only make things worse. We have your best interests at heart. Please do not take offense.

Shrittah, I hope that my posting did not offend you. Yes, you should see another doctor. If anything it will help your piece of mind. I am just a year older than you and I know how scared you are right now. Keep a positive attitude and everything will be OK.

Good Luck!!!

Hello Shrittah,

Welcome to our website. But sorry you had to find us.

Please don't be offended where none was intended.
Joanna said it best in her posting above. If you do have cancer this website can offer you advice
on what treatments and side effects may occur. Who better to ask than someone who has walked the path ahead of you?

As far as expense there are many hospitals who can write off the expense for people who can't pay. I would look into that as an option.

I think if it was me in your shoes I would seek another opinion at a comprehensive cancer center if possible. You want someone who sees alot of what you have. You also want a team of doctors to review all tests and pathlogy reports and come to an agreement on the best treatment for you. As Gary as mentioned many times a ENT (cutter) will usually want to cut, A radiation guy will normally want to use rad and medical on'gist will want to use chemo. You want the best treatment for you!!! The more knowledge you have about this diaease the more power you will have. It is a most unforgiving diaease.

I understand your concerns about the expense. I am almost two years out from DX and I know the total bill is over $300.000.00. Thank God my wife is a nurse and has very good insurance.

Best Wishes and please keep us posted on how your doing. We do care about you.

Danny Boy

Shrittah, some of the messages here may sound offensive but I trust that they were not intentional. Members here just try to show their concern and make you feel the urgency of your case. Don't let the diagnosis be delayed because of financial problem. I think in a developed country like US, no one should be rejected for medical treatment due to financial difficulty. Danny, your bill is really astronomical as compared to mine which was less than US$2,000 including diagnosis tests, radiation/ chemo treatment,medication, hospital chareges, follow up scans, etc. Now I understand why medical insurance is so very important in your place.
Karen

Hi Karen,
Actually Dannys doing pretty well. The bill for my IMRT alone was over $300,000. That didn't include chemotherapy, 2 visits to the ER and a ton of scans and lab work. Of course because I have insurance, I only paid $5.00 copays for each doctor visit or prescription. The CCC sent me copies of the bills they sent to the HMO, which paid them.

The people who really suffer in the US are the middle and lower middle classes or people who own property. If you are totally indigent then the public health care system will pay for your treatment through Medicaid or eventually Medicare if you are diabled for longer than 2 years. It is a more institutionalized setting but I know of some people with very advanced lung cancers who were treated successfully at our local county hospital. Many of the county hospitals are also teaching hospitals much like is shown on "ER". Publicly funded hospitals have to take patients with no ability to pay. Unfortunately you can't own much personal property. Even an old car might disqualify you.
I would check with the county welfare office to see if you can qualify.

My wife and I have a very good health plan and it cost $1,113.00/mo. We are both over 50 (and I am over 55) so that increases the rates dramatically.

My total out of pocket expenses is closer to Karens, and that's over a three year period.

Thank God for Insurance. I am not finished yet but so far my bill is over $500,000.00. I had a tumor on my vocal cord, no operation Radiation and
Chemo. Completion of everything was Jan 3rd of 2005. Voice still raspy. I never see any responses on this. Any out there to give me support?
Fran

Fran,
Depending on where the radiation is concentated, I think everyone has a raspy voice for a while after radiation. Yours may be worst than most because the concentration was on the vocal chords. Ask your rd about it. I had general rad all over in 1997 because of occult primary. My voice did change some permanently, but nothing significant, until I had the second occurrence. I hope things improve for you.

Take care,
Eileen

Fran, it isn't raspy, it is sexy. Candace

Fran,

Rod had 35 rad tx & 3 rounds of cisplatin. His voice was really raspy for about 5 months after tx actually. It got better as the months went by. He is 10 months out now & his voice sounds alot better. Not the same, but I think it has something to do with his dentures???I can't explain it.He had a beautiful singing voice and won alot of contests with it! That was really hard on him that he had to stop singing. The dry mouth doesn't help but maybe one day.... Anyway his voice did get better with time. It seemed like right after tx it was the worst, sounded like he always had to clear his throat but that could have been all the phlegm too. It takes time but I believe it will get better! Good luck & God bless!Maureen