I will be 20 in about a week and I am very concerned because my throat has been hurting for the past four months. I have seen multiple doctors and even my otolaryngologist (ears nose and throat doctor). They have all dismissed it as allergies. Tonight on my right submandibular gland (underneath your tongue) started to become really sore and my right ear started aching and my throat began hurting. I don't know if this is a sign of oral cancer or what. I know I am young but you never know. Here are a few pics of underneath my tongue (I don't know if anything looks abnormal or what) but if there is anyone who can help me out there you would be a HUGE lifesaver! Thank you!

Do you have a history of tobacco and/or alcohol? Do you have a history of allergies? I wouldn't know if the underside of your tongue looks abnormal or not and even if it did that doesn't necessarily equate to cancer. If you aren't satisfied with your doctor's conclusions, you can always seek another qualified opinion. Did they prescribe any allergy meds and if so how long have you been on them?

keep an eye open for any lymph nodes on your neck that might be swollen. that is one of the classic symptoms of oral cancer. i had a chronic sore throat like you for several months as well. my docs treated me for sinus and allergies. after about two months i noticed that there were several enlarged lymph nodes on my neck. from that i was sent to a cancer ENT and the nodes were biopsied with a needle. i was also scheduled for a regular biopsy of the spot behind my tonsil. it was then confirmed that i had the cancer. i am now 9 mos post treatments and the cancer is gone. if you are in doubt, keep getting second and third opinions until you are satisfied.

i hope yours is not cancer and i don't want to scare you, but my radiation oncologist told me that oral cancer has been showing up over the last 10 years more than ever before in 20, 30 and 40 year olds. this cancer is obviously no longer targeting just the typical over 50 age group.

Go to an ENT ASAP so that you can get the areas biopsied so you will know for sure. Demand a referral if you need one. I went to the Doctor 3 times before I got a referral and I woudl have been in better shape had I been referred immediately. K

All of these things could be the result of something as common as a bacterial infection. You do not mention if you have any risk factors for OC. Do you smoke? Are you a heavy drinker? If you eliminate these, coupled with your youth, the odds of this being a malignancy is small. Since you have already seen an ENT, my suggestion is that you get a second ENT opinion, from one that has experience with head and neck cancers... most that do are surgeons and have seen it all. If you are near a dental school, I would go there and ask to see an oral medicine specialist as another highly trained possibility to obtain an informed opinion. You also could get your current docs to rule out infections by doing a blood test and check white cell counts. Differential diagnosis, is a combination of looking at risk factors a patient has for the disease, and the elimination of all the common mimics or other causes that share the same symptomology that it could be. So before you jump to the worst case, there is more to do to eliminate the simple (and not deadly) things it might be.

Hi Im Lyn and welcome. Please go back as soon as possible to your DR and go again and ....get a refferal to at least a Oral surgeon or another ENT guy ...or as a last resort...go to a good cancer centre at any big hospital near you and they will do all the necesarry tests that will more than likely ease your mind. The one thing I did wrong (apart from smoke) was wait too long listening to Drs telling me I had everything from an ulcer to thrush without giving me any blood tests or biopsies or referrals to experts. I was so silly and naive as i didnt know how cancer was diagnosed...I thought (like you) that people could just take a quick peep at it and tell you either way. Had I have gone earlier...like one YEAR earlier...I may not have lost as much of my tongue...it may not have even turned into cancer at that stage as then, it looked like (yet another diagnosis from the drs) leukoplakia and I was convinced I then had cancer. Then I got too scared to go. SILLY ME!! Once you make that big step (take your Mum or a friend or someone to hold your hand) you will see...the drs there are different and will make you feel sooo much better and lift that weight off your young shoulders (Im 46) and then IF it is cancer...they will deal with it (its not a death sentance anymore you know) ...then the lovely wise people here will all help you deal with the emotional side while the experts heal your body (if thats at all necessary)! One thing I was told was in my favour was "you are YOUNG" HEY you are only 20! If I am young what does that make you? an embryo? haha! GO as soon as possible...and dont worry...remember that "dis"-ease means "not-ease"...maybe thats where the word originated from coz it sure makes sense, huh?...stress causes more sickness than anything....I wish you well and will sneak a Prayer in for you tonight....(I will be praying for you to get a kind dr who will make sure you are diagnosed properly...not for a cancer cure...as you most likely havent even got it!!) I hope you havent Love Lyn XXXX