Hi,

I am a 30 year old woman, never smoked, vegetarian, active, social drinker. My troubles with my health started a month ago when I noticed a few swallen lymph nodes on my neck. Being a hematologist, I was scared I might have lymphoma and had a total body CT done (from the nec down) which found only one enlarged lymph node and said it was non-specific. I have a history of reactive lymph nodes in my family as well. I was 2 weeks ago. Yesterday I was brushing my teeth and found a red patch on my right bucca. Went to to dentist right away who said this due to trauma that one of my tooth is making. Well...could be. She suggested to place these things to move teeth in a better row (sorry, don't know the word).

What do think, should I visit a oral surgeon just to be sure if that is the case?

My friends already treat me as a hypochondriac which is frustrating as I try to be proactive about my health.

Thanks,
Eve

Hi Eve. If you have a sore in your mouth that has been there for 2 or 3 weeks and has not healed then its time to get it checked by either an ENT or oral surgeon. Many dentists are not experienced with oral cancer tumors. Only thru a biopsy would they be able to tell if something is malignant for cancer.

Hope whats going on with you turns out to be nothing. Best wishes!

Eve - I agree with cristine if it doesn't heal have it looked at by and ENT or oral surgeon - mine started out the same way and I'm like you non smoker, veg head, active and I don't drink at all! good luck... And hoping you not need o be here!

Thank you guys. I got an appointment for next week. Will let you know how it goes.

Eve,
It's ALL to easy to be a hypochondriac when you are in the medical business (we know enough to be dangerous ;-) Besides that, OC only affects a relatively small number of people compared to the "big 4" (breast, lung, colorectal and skin cancers).

In earlier times a person with your health profile would have a low risk for OC but with the advent of HPV the game has changed and much younger people are showing up here than when I first joined.

I remember being stunned when a 28 year old showed up with a stage I tumor and subsequently died. Most of the early newbies were in their mid 50's.

It's also amazing the number of non HPV - younger - non smokers non drinkers here these days! I is one!

Hi again. So I went to orthodontist yesterday and and oral surgeon today. Both of them looked at the lesions and said that they are not worried but urged me to put on the braces and start the treatment (meaning braces) for the 2nd molar which is causing the irritation to the cheek. So here I am, puzzeled still. The lesions are reddish, not sure if you can call them eryhtoplakia or not if you know the cause (mechanical trauma). I have read some materials and found out that a big percentage of erythroplakias are in fact dysplasias or carcinoma-in-situs or SCC. I did mention this to the oral surgeon and asked if a biopsy should be performed but he said no no, come back if the lesions change. Well...if they change, wouldn't it be too late then? So now I decided to go to an ENT (got an appointment to the 20th of Dec) and if he says no to the biopsy I have to give it a rest. I will go the orthodontist again in 2 weeks and start fixing the deviated molar as well.

I have read quite many threads here and you truly are a wonderful bunch

Will report after a visit to ENT.

All the best and stay healthy.
Eve

Let me share something with you... It's a debated topic... Being in the medical profession you are probably aware hat there is some question as to whether - long term chronic irritation can cause cancer! Some people believe it some don't - but lung cancer patients (small cell - smokers cancer) are a prime example of changes brought on due to long term chronic irritation.
I am a vegetarian (almost Vegan) I used to go to the gym daily!!! I did yoga - I have never smoked, never drank - seriously - I mean I tried alcohol 2 x when I was 15, that's it! I'm under 50 - for years it had a molar with a filling that was sharp the filling fell out a few times I had it replaced and so on.. One day my dentist spotted a thickened patch under my tongue - sent me to an oral surgeon... He removed it and biopsied it - it came back as thickened skin - likely built up over years to protect my poor tongue from trauma from that molar. The area was sensitive, but healed - then jump ahead a few years to where I had that molar capped (almost seven years now) my tongue in the same area started bothering me. It got progressively worse - had the cap filed down - the whole underside of my tongue on the left side was red. Had it filed a few more times - finally had a biopsy done - 3 yrs ago August - came back inflamed and irritated tissue. (at this point there was a lump IN my tongue (no open sore no whiteness) I thought it was scar tissue - the ENT didn't say anything... And the biopsy was negative - so we started looking to see if it was allergies- and I had the tooth filed again. This went on for years! Last August I had the molar beside the other molar capped - things got way worse!!! I had another biopsy one year ago tomorrow - it came back scc. There are two sides of the fence on whether chronic irritation can cause cancer. Do i think it can? Yes! Some websites list it as a cause of scc, some don't and drs answer differently - depending on who you ask... So keep a close eye on the area and do see your ENT. Good luck! And sorry you are going through this.

I'm with Cheryl - I 100% believe that my oral cancer was caused by chronic irritation from my braces - there was a spot that the underside of my tongue gravitated towards and rubbed against unconsciously and constantly - even in my sleep! Was assured that it was nothing unitl I was done with the braces and the lesion failed to heal.Then everyone started paying attention!

Stay diligent!

Some have postulated that even drinking liquids that are too hot or cold can irritate the tissues in the throat, besides the obvious, tobacco, alcohol (including alcohol containing mouthwash), I am not so sure that there is an obvious link between a mechanical irritation, such as a rough tooth and OC.

Hi again. I started using dental wax on the rough edges and the lesions disappeared. I am very relieved. Will of cource put the braces on.

All the best to you all and happy holidays.

Eve

Awesome!, I have one molar on my right side (old tongue) that is slightly inset. It caused tongue irritation though out radiation (swollend left side kept jamming - old tongue up against this molar!!!!) I visited my dental oncologist. Had him File it down. It improved immediately! The dentist said we all think our mouths are empty but it's full of tongue. It still has the potential to irritate ocassinally - so ill have it taken down a little more next time I'm here but for the most part - its 100% better! Keep n eye on thngs! But great news!

Not only is the mouth full of tongue, but it will be inexplicably drawn to any irregularity it encounters! Have a crown fall out and try to keep your tongue off of it. Good luck.