My Mom, who has never smoked and hardly drinks more than a little red wine now and then, has a splotch. Lacking a better description, it is a pinkish-whiteish flat mark on the soft palate of the left side of her mouth. About 8mm x 12mm

It is not painful. It doesn't seem to be growing. Here's the problem. She's had it for MONTHS now!

She's been to her regular Dentist who did the not so perfectly diagnostic swish thing. She went to an ENT who said he was "nearly sure" it wasn't cancer and scheduled a follow-up for DECEMBER !!

Now, she is not sleeping. Not eating. Not happy. She is miserable and crippled by fear.

I am sure seeing her son nearly eat-it with Stage IV SCC doesn't help keep it in perspective, and I am honestly starting to worry.

Maybe this ENT is wrong..? it could happen.

She's my best friend in my life. She is 64 and not as young as she used to be. (Otherwise very healthy though, doesn't abuse herself, she is normal weight, etc)

She needs to get a 2nd opinion at the least. I am over 400 miles away.

I don't want her to waste any more time figuring out who to see. Where to go.

I know most of the very knowledgeable cancer ENTs are not interested in diagnosing. Seems to me they prefer to get patients AFTER they have been definitely diagnosed by their GP, etc.

The good news is, unlike me, she lives in civilization. South Orange County (Brian?) to be more precise. Ok, ok, Laguna Niguel. You forced it out of me.

Since she is in So Cal there must be someone she can go to rather than picking up the Yellow Pages (Does ANYONE really use those phone books anymore?)

Any suggestions would be greatefully appreciated!

Your are a very good son, she is lucky to have you looking out for her. I would try an oral surgeon to see if a biopsy is needed. IF and I do say IF it is cancer then the biospy is the way to know for sure. Not all spots are cancer. Some ENTs or even dentists do biopsies too, but seems oral surgeons do them more often. Wishing her well with the outcome.

a biopsy is the only way to prove if it is or isn't cancer...your mom needs one

Thanks for the biopsy suggestions...I agree of course that biopsy is the gold standard in dx.

However, the ENT she saw last week said: "I wouldn't know what to biopsy...there's nothing to cut."

Not sure what that means, I wasn't there personally to push the issue, but it seems to me a "punch" biopsy would be the way to go.

He can most certainly collect a small sample of the "area" that way.

Thank you again for the support!

Michael,
What makes you state:

'I know most of the very knowledgeable cancer ENTs are not interested in diagnosing. Seems to me they prefer to get patients AFTER they have been definitely diagnosed by their GP, etc.'

I don't think that's true. Rather than running around finding another doctor, why don't you send her to one of the many CCC center where she lives and get an answer from someone who deals with this cancer everyday. Those of us who start out at one of those are not usually running around for second and third opinions, admittedly, you're were exception to that rule. I actually can't believe you didn't send here to a CCC in the first place.

Take care,
Eileen

Take care,
Eileen

Eileen. Of course you are right.

Unfortunately, my Mom is a bit stubborn like many (like Mom like Son

Anyway, when it was just a white splotch and had only been observed for a couple weeks, there was no cause for alarm.

She had some new braces (Invisaline?) around September 6, and they routinely cause sores.

The "sore" (which actually isn't sore), was first noticed by my Mom in the mirror a couple days after that.

So, to be accurate, it has been about 6 or 7 weeks now and she has been back to the DDS a couple times, and this one ENT twice.

I called 2 SoCal CCC's intake dept's and both told me she would have to have a dx before making an appt.

That's where I get that perspective, but of course it could be way off.

Also, 2nd and 3rd opinions are not a bad idea when the standard of care for one's case gives 2 completely different lines of suggested treatment and the decision is so crucial.

So, if she didn't get a 2nd or 3rd opinion at this point she'd be just worrying and waiting for a December followup.

Maybe you can take her to a Dentist that can do a brush biopsy before seeing the specialist in December.

hey again Ray...

I spoke to her DDS and she said she did the ViziLite (sp?) test already.

I seem to recall Bryan thinking these tests (at least a couple years ago), were not very conclusive.

The dentist said she didn't want to do any cutting since it looked like just a skin discoloration to her.

I am working with getting her an appt at UCLA now, so I'll post when we know more. THANKS AGAIN!

I had white splotches biopsied for fifteen years before one spot grew a tumor (which was clearly different from the white spots; overlapped the skin and had a tiny vascular system running through it) -- Given liability, I am surprised that docs aren't clamoring to biopsy it -- They make money and everyone knows for sure.

Vizilite is not like the Velscope. It is a avery weak science, and the test (IMHO) isn't worth the cost of the testing components. The company is almost our of business, after nearly being de listed from the stock exchange. I wouldn't trust anything in my mouth to the outcome of this testing idea.