Hello, new here.

I am 37 weeks pregnant with my second child and have been told by my GP I need to be referred because of a suspicion of oral cancer. This referral will take 2 weeks (I will be a week from giving birth at this point.)

I have a rough, greyish area on my tongue that has been there for some months. It's about 1.5cm. It occurred after my dentist caught my tongue with his drill back in April. In June I went to visit my dentist and showed him the discoloured patch- he reassured me it was scar tissue from the injury and nothing to worry about. After seeing my dentist today who told me I need a referral I am so confused. I see the dentist again on Thursday so will ask him to take another look.

I am so scared if this is cancer it has had plenty of time to get really bad. I am scared of the timing- how can I cope with a new baby, my four year old daughter and a cancer diagnosis.

Does anyone know how worried I need to be about this?

Hi!

Try not to worry too much until you have confirmation that it's something to worry about. The fact that you had an injury there (ouch, by the way) could be the reason. Don't let this take away from the joy of giving birth.I have worried myself to death over years and am trying to take it day by day.

I hope your referral is with an ENT who is experienced with oral cancer. If not, I would find one who is and get an appointment. Either way, I would want someone highly qualified to look it over. It's sounds like your dentist might not be the best person to diagnose what it is. JMO

I'm not sure who my referral is with- will check with my GP. It is at the dental hospital I believe.

I just keep thinking that after the drill incident there was a huge nasty ulcer. It then healed and left behind this greyish patch. I hope that's too much of a coincidence to be anything other than a result of the injury. I am trying to stay calm but I ca t sleep at night for worrying. If it is the big C word then it has been left to grow for 6 months. Surely that's too much time to be treatable? I worry so much that I might die leaving my little girl and as yet unborn baby with no memories of me. I'm so scared I can't breathe. I just need answers. I then feel so guilty getting so worked up in pregnancy- it can't be doing any good for my baby.

Hallie, try your very best to stay calm! Stress is the last thing you need right now. Take this one step at a time and dont get ahead of yourself with the "what if's". Focus on preparing for your new bundle of joy

Im not saying this isnt important, do get yourself checked thoroughly and biopsied to find out whats going on. A couple more weeks shouldnt make much of a difference. It usually does take at least 3 weeks from the time a patient first discovers their "spot" until they get the biopsy results back. It can take a month to get into an ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer patients. Thats who I suggest seeing, they would be the most experienced in this type of thing.

To answer your question about if its been there for 6 months is it untreatable... NO! Every single patient is slightly different but many do not get diagnosed until Stage IV. Their cancer could have been slowly growing for many months, even years before it was discovered.

There have been a few women who have been pregnant while diagnosed. They are all success stories with happy, healthy moms and babies

It could be any number of things besides cancer. There are many different lumps and bumps and sores anyone can have at any time in their mouths. Even experienced physicians must do a biopsy to be certain what a sore is. We have a saying around here... Its not cancer until the biopsy says it is. Hang in there!!!

So do you think they will give me a biopsy? A bit worried about that when I'm so far pregnant. Maybe they would wait until the baby is born but that just delays things even further.

I just am upset that for months my symptoms have been ignored by doctors and dentists because I don't fit the risk factors. I'm only in my twenties, have never smoked or drank etc. Now they are taking me seriously it's the worse possible time.

And thank you so much for replying to me. I have no one in real life to talk too. Trying not to worry my husband anymore than he already is.

Hallie, please calm down!!! I completely understand where you are coming from. Its a terrifying thought thinking you may have cancer. But being upset will not change anything, it only makes you feel worse. With getting ready for a new baby, you have more than enough going on adding more stress is not good. As I read thru your posts, I see many "what if's". Take a deep breath and focus on what you have within your control. By speculating on the worst possible outcome you went from having a "spot" to not being here at all. Im hoping that you are able to see you are getting way ahead of yourself. From the time of your last post I see you're not sleeping (probably from too much worrying) which doesnt help matters at all. There is not one thing positive that ever came from worrying.

Start immediately keeping yourself extra busy. Having a 4 year old should with that. Every time you go there only allow yourself like 3 minutes to entertain those thoughts then physically get up and do something positive. By keeping very busy it will help you to pass the time easier and hopefully lessen the amount of time you spend worrying. Remember you do not have control over this, you only can control your actions and reactions.

Take things one step at a time. Find an ENT who specializes in oral cancer and not the type of ENT who primarily puts tubes in kids ears. Ive found most ENTs will do a consult appointment first where they examine the patient and tell them what they think it could be. They also will suggest a biopsy (if necessary) and discuss the different option on how it can be done. Some ENTs will do a biopsy at the first appointment but most do not. The ENTs office will check your insurance to see whats covered. After you make your choice, they schedule the biopsy procedure for your next visit. Its very important to take someone with you to all these appointments. Too often patients tune out whats being said missing important info. Some physicians will allow the sessions to be tapes, but you must ask first. Then the third appointment is for the results. These appointments will probably be spread over at least 3 weeks plus it usually takes a few weeks to get in to see the ENT. Waiting is the WORST!!!!! But knowing ahead of time it will likely be at least a month (Im guessing more like 6-8 weeks) before you know anything should help you prepare to manage the wait. With a brand new baby, you will hopefully be able to stay positive and calm during this wait.

Im sending you a private message (PM). Look for the tiny flashing envelope and click on it to get the PM.

Thank you Christine, you have been so lovely. I'm in the UK so need to worry about insurance or anything. Maybe the specialist will take one look st it and tell me it's fine and I don't need a biopsy then. Then this nightmare can be over!

My daughter is good at keeping me busy. We are having a long baking session this afternoon. Making a coffee and walnut cake as well as courgette muffins and oatmeal cookies.

Hallie, thank you for keeping us updated. Christine said it so well, do not worry yourself crazy with concern. There are many, many reasons for bumps and lumps on the tongue and in the mouth. You are headed in the right direction to get it checked out.

Your job right now is to keep yourself healthy for yourself, your hubby and your daughter and especially the new baby on it's way.

It does take a little while to get everything in place for appointments and testing. Try to relax and as your prepare for your new little one.

I smiled big as I read your comment about a baking session with your daughter. It brought back such memories of baking times with our daughter who is now 47. Flour everywhere, stepping in sugar, spilled milk, reminding her not to lick the spoon if she was going to use it again and plates full of misshapen cookies to surprise Dad with.

Go, make those memories with your daughter ! She will always remember the fun you had in the kitchen. You are preparing her to be a good Mom to your Grandchildren. Then you too can sit back and smile and always enjoy your memories.

I read somewhere to get out a piece of paper and write down everything I could think of that had worried and stressed me out in life. I did that, long list by the way, but it brought into reality how much time I had spent worrying unnecessarily. How much time I had wasted by being so focused on things that did not happen at all interfered with enjoying what should have been such exciting times.

I am sorry you are having this scare with such bad timing. Please keep us posted and I want to hear the scoop on the new baby and how your daughter welcomes the baby into the family !

I would just like to welcome you to the forum and hopefully you won't need to stay on here long.

You have got really good advice from ChristineB and Jo in NC. We are all rooting for you.

Im very sorry I was giving you info as if you were in the US. I dont know how your medical system works in the UK. No wonder you were posting in the middle of the night, for you it was daytime. I was concerned you werent too upset to sleep.

Baking with your little one sounds like a perfect way to stay busy doing positive, productive activities. Im sure your daughter loves baking with you.

Hang in there and please keep us posted.