Hi,
I have had persistent whitish sores for about 3 to 4 weeks.
I have treated them as canker sores, but now I'm worried they might be malignant.
There is one on the inside of my lower lip, left side,
and there seem to be two sores on the left underside of my tongue.
My tongue had been burning for some time.
Now it's tingling, and so is the inside of my left cheek and lips. Also I have this "metallic" sensation.
I have decided to see a doctor this week to exclude (hopefully) malignancy.
Hope it's still Grade 0!
Kind regards,
Mike

Welcome Mike. You're doing the right thing going to see a doctor for any symptom, like a sore, that doesn't go away in several weeks. Most times, its something other than cancer, like a bacterial, fungal of viral infection. Certain medical conditions causes mouth ulcers like neutropenia and anemia, certain medications, sharp edged foods, spices, smoking, drinking alcohol. Do you smoke, snuff, chew tobacco, If you do, stop, and if lesions are caused by this they may resolve itself. I'm not a doctor. but that's a lot of sores at once, including the lip, so may be something more systemic (infection) is causing them, maybe not, could be combination of ailments too with co-existent cancer, result of sun exposure, and something called " field cancerization" where you have mutiple primaries, usually from alcohol/smoking, but only a doctor can make a diagnosis with a biopsy.

Try to go to an ENT that has experience in cancer. Good luck with your doctor.

Dear PaulB,

thanks for your kind advice.
I was beginning to feel like I was being ignored.Lol
I was surprised to find out that in the States the ENT specialist seems to be one of the usual ports of call.
My wife had a mc scare a couple of years ago, and we consulted a university dental surgery department in Germany.
I am a one-time survivor of cancer already (liposarcoma). That was in 1989 at the age of 39.
Strangely I'n not as nervous or desperate as I was then.
I have only had these symptoms for about three weeks. So I hope it turns out to be only grade 0 or I, if it should be cancer.
I have an appointment on Tuesday.
Will take some time if a biopsy is called for.
Thanks again.
Warm regards,
Mike

There is a difference in times zones, and saw this post after waking, and wasn't there last night. I know certain medical care, specialists, may be required to obtain differently in other countries, but some in the U.S. need to see their general pratictioner or get insurance clearance first before going further. Fortunately, I can go anywhere with no restrictions. An ENT is the one to go to next, if cancer is suspicious in the HN. Sorry for you liposarcoma. Could this have something to do with your current situation, which can occur anywhere, Secondary primaries, even Lowered immune system. Anyway, the dr knows best, and should be considered a higher risk for neoplasm due to this. I hope all tests come back negative.

I always wanted to go to Thailand, my dream vacation, one day, but can't eat spices anymore Hope life is good for you out there otherwise.

Dear Paul,
no I don't think it's got anything to do with my sarcoma. That was 24 years ago!
Also the sores do not have to be connected,
Burning tongue syndrome might be an alternative.
Anyway, so long!
Mike

Welcome to OCF! Any sore you have in your mouth for 2 or 3 weeks that does not heal on its own should be checked by a professional. I had my 'canker sore' for about 2 months before I had it checked. I suggest you go get checked out to be certain its not cancerous. To the average person a cancerous tumor can look exactly the same as a canker sore (at least thats how mine looked).

Check out the image gallery. Some of the things you may thing look like cancer really turn out to be something else. Click on each photo then click on the word diagnosis to find out what the person was diagnosed with.

Oral Cancer Photo Gallery

Best wishes!

Dear Christine,
thanks for your kind message.
I have my first appointment with an ent specialist tomorrow.
I'll be content if the cancer is confined to the tongue.
Not being able to speak after surgery does not bother me much.
Have never been much of a talker anyway.
And nowadays one can communicate via sms and chat.
I'll keep you posted.
Take care!
Warm regards,
Mike

Hi,
saw a very young (& pretty) Thai ent doctor today.
She thought it was not malignant, and prescribed a special
ointment. She will check me again two weeks from now.
If the ointment helps, it's ok.
Otherwise I may ask for a second opinion.
After a bad night, I am sure I'll sleep better tonight.
Hoping the medication will get rid of the symptoms.
I'll keep you posted.
Take care!
Warm regards,
Mike

The Metallic sensation may be blood that you are detecting. Usually diffuse symptoms - many of the same kind of thing but in different areas is indicative of something other than cancer. Nothing is every 100 percent of course, and sometimes you will get a primary with maybe another somewhere else but a lot of whitish patches makes me think infection. I do have to say - after my biopsy - i did have burning and tingling where the tumor had been cut. But again I'd agree with your dr. likely not malignant, however if it doesn't respond to her treatment, then push to have a biopsy done. better safe than sorry.

Hi Cheryl,.
thanks for your kind advice.
Well, I have started applying the ointment.
I believe the 2 whitish hard "spots" on my lower left inside lip will be harder to get rid of with the ointment than the "grey" patch sore on the left underside of my tong.
The doctor was a bit young though.
I suppose she would prescribe the ointment before bringing up the heavy artillery such as biopsy, x-rays etc. if the prescription should not get rid of these symptoms.
Depending on her reaction I might ask for a second opinion.
As for the metallic sensation/taste I did not notice any blood.
Take care!
Warm regards,
Mike

Hopefully it's nothing. The hardened patches may be almost like a callous - possibly built up from irritation over a long time. What kind of cream did she prescribe? I have this awesome cortisone cream I use on rare occasions when my tongue is irritated. Radiation of course caused it to be super sensitive. And it's a little big for my mouth because of the graft so I occasionally bite it by accident All this combined with eating irritating foods and I sometimes need this cream for a spot treatment for a day or two. It heals everything right up.

If what you have doesn't heal. Get a second opinion. A good dr. is not put off by a second opinion.
take care

Cheryl,
checking my left cheek I discovered some more 'lesions'.
The ointment is called "Oral-T", contains Triamcinolone acetonide BP 0.1%
The Hospital, besides several ENT doctors, also has two oral surgeons on its staff.
So I may ask for a second opinion, depending on the effect of the paste.
Take care!
Warm regards,
Mike

P.S. Tongue burns, cheek tickles.?Lol

Hi, I have done some research on the internet, and discovered a gallery of ORAL LICHEN PLANUS.
Comparing this gallery with the ORAL CANCER gallery, a layman cannot see any difference!
So ORAL LICHEN PLANUS is always a possible, non-malignant differential diagnosis.
Kind regards,
Mike

Hi,
I have come to believe that my doctor's diagnosis was right.
I feel relieved that most likely my "canker sores" were symptoms of Oral Lichen Planus. The lichen like pattern of the raised white patches & streaks and the metallic taste seem to confirm the diagnosis.

Kind regards,
Mike

Hi,

I have been applying the oral paste for two weeks.

Not much change with the painless lesions on the inside of my left cheek & lip.
But this and the pattern of the white lesions would concur with Oral Lichen Planus which can persist for 8 months or longer.

The painful ulcer on the left side/underside of my tongue would also be consistent with Lichen, but my doctor suspects the tongue might be irritated by the sharp edges of some teeth.
So I am going to see a dentist today.

Warm regards,
Mike

Okay so this sounds a lot like me. Be diligent. I had an irritated tongue for a LONG TIME, I had it biopsied to no avail. Still suffering I was sent to a second ENT, he looked at it and said lichen planus, but wanted to biopsy a certain area. Sure enough it was cancer. If it still hasn't healed keep at it. There is no cure for lichen planus, though it is stress related apparently - The best thing to do is see someone every three months or so. Particularly if you still have a tongue leison that shows no sign of healing. To me that is a BIG RED FLAG. best of luck - PS my first ENT said the same thing about sharp teeth, had mine filed down was tested for allergies etc... before going to someone else for a biopsy.