Hi all,

I thought I had canker sore or sores on the back of my tongue as every swallow for 8 days today KILLS me with pain. I went to the dentist and he said I have NO canker sores. (maybe there is one further back that he cannot see?!) So I went to my family doctor and he just chalked it up to a virus. He did a throat culture and it was negative.

I just never had pain like this on one side before. It feels like strep throat but my throat is healthy pink looking. My tongue even looks fine but when I eat or drink or yawn or swallow my own saliva oh my does it HURT. Maybe I caught an odd virus or something, I don't know. I am scared thinking it is lingual tonsil cancer or tongue cancer.

Has anyone else had anything like this? Does this mean I need to prepare myself for tongue cancer from my symptoms: severe tongue pain when swallowing (even saliva) on one side only for 8 days today. It feels like an odd infection or something. No fever and no swollen glands.

Thank you,
Viv

P.S. I am seeing my ENT tomorrow.

Viv12, sorry for your anxiety. 8 days is a little soon to worry but keep on top of it. Maybe try gargling with salt water 2-3 times a day. Give it a couple weeks and go to the doctor.

Hopefully your ENT will be able to figure out whats wrong. It could be any number of things besides OC.

Any time anyone has a sore inside their mouth for 2 or 3 weeks and it does not heal by itself, it needs to be checked by a professional. An ENT is usually the best choice for this type of thing.

Hopefully its nothing serious! Best wishes!

Hi Viv - I know where you're coming from about this infection/sore. I had a similar occurence more than once when I was in treatment; an infection of some sort (mine was in left rear corner of mouth near my molars). We did a culture test on the green crud that was visible but nothing grew, ie it was viral, not bacterial (or so they told me).

ON the first time I had this they actually prescribed an antibiotic, but of course it didn't help (because it's viral). On the second bout they declined anti-biotic prescription and said your body will just have to clear it naturally (which it did, in about 2 weeks). That was a year ago, I haven't had any recurrences since.

I did have SCC of the left tonsil. I don't think the infection came from the cancer, I think it came from the weakened immune system in my mouth/body. Does having a similar infection/sore in your mouth mean you have cancer, probably not, but you do need to get it checked by an ENT specializing in oral cancer.

Let us know the results of your ENT visit.

take care, Tony

Hi there,


On both inside cheeks I have a few white patches and red bumps. They have been there a while � for months actually. I assumed they were from biting my cheeks. I grind my teeth in my sleep and wear a night guard and I got a new night guard last summer so I assumed they were from that. I was able to bite my cheeks even with the guard on.

Well recently I noticed a white patch on the left side of my tongue, towards the front but on the side of my tongue. There is a small taste bud next to this patch that is inflamed and red. And it hurts. On my right side of my tongue there is a small white patch too but that one is further back. That one does not hurt.

I went to my regular dentist. He told me to rinse with salt water and see my periodontist if it didn't clear in two weeks. A week later I saw my periodontist. He measure d areas and gave me a steroid rinse. I went back yesterday after a week and no change. No bigger, no smaller. He said we will give it two more weeks and then biopsy an area on my cheek and on my tongue.

I have an appointment with my ENT tomorrow. I will see what he says.

I am TERRIFIED this is oral cancer.

Has anyone had anything similar? If so can you share your story?

Thank you.

Thank you everyone! This turned out fine - ENT said it was probably a viral infection. It cleared. But now I am a mess with white sores and I just posted a new topic.

I have merged your posts.

Are the white sores the same ones as you originally asked about? An ENT who specializes in oral cancer patients should be the best person to diagnose you. There are all kinds of things the sores could be besides cancer. If the sores have been there for longer than 2 - 3 weeks then its time to get checked out.

A biopsy may be necessary to identify what's going on.

Hopefully its nothing serious! Good luck!!!