Hi there; I've browsed through messages on the site but haven't really found a previous query that matches my own - so here goes! Any advice would be appreciated; I realise of course that it doesn't constitute a diagnosis.

I've had a reddish sore (around 1cm) on my hard palate (just off the midline closer to the front teeth) that is sensitive for around a year. Painful wouldn't be the word, just sensitive. Sometimes it dies down, at others it sparks up, always to the same level of mildness. The sore isn't red throughout, it has the 'usual' white lines running through it.

I don't smoke (never have) nor especially drink; I'm 34 years old. I visited a dentist for my annual checkup and asked for advice. I was told it was nothing to be concerned about, just a persistent cold sore. True, I am prone to cold sores but only on the outer lip! I wasn't even aware you could get these inside the mouth and on the hard palate; and its lengthy duration puzzled me.

At any rate has anyone else heard of anything akin to this? I am considering following this up with a visit to an MD next week...

Many thanks
Mike

Hi Michael:

Sidebar-note you are posting from London. My partner, Dave is from originally from Manchester, UK and just is recovering from surgery for oral cancer.I'm happy to report he has retained his accent post-op much to the delight of his caregivers who think he sound charming!

Now for your issue-I'm thinking that it woudl be wise to have an ear, nose, and throat specialist take a look at your mouth sore even if it does wax and wane.I would err on the side of prudent judgement on this one and lay your fears to rest by getting an expert opinion.If the area should need further evaluation, the sooner the better to enhance both your options and sense of control over the situation and outcome.

There are several reasons why people get sores in the mouth and on the palate that are NOT cancer but the usual rule of thumb is to have any sore or spot looked at that doesn't resolve within a couple of weeks.

Please keep us all posted with your progress

Best wishes,

Kim

I agree with kcdc, you need to see an ENT for a look. The dentist is definitely wrong in one area... cold sores, (herpes simplex) do not last for long periods. They resolve, on their own in 10 to 14 days. So I wouldn't trust this persons opinion if he made this comment. There are plenty of benign things that occur orally and may look like what you describe, but please err on the side of caution and have it looked at by someone in the know. On the positive side of your comments, the fact that it comes and goes is not like oral cancers which do not behave this way.

Thanks for your replies, which have served to convince me to go ahead and get it checked out. I only hope the doctor is willing to have it investigated - I read somewhere that many MD's are not well versed in oral cancers if they are not 'obvious'.

For what it's worth the dentist noted that I had several sores dotted around my mouth; I believe that's what led him to say "don't worry, you are prone to these". None seem to form the 'classical' signs I read about (no white patches, no smooth red patches either) but at the same time, as you've noted, they shouldn't be kicking around for so long.

I will be sure to let you know the upshot...

Many thanks
Mike

(by the way kcdc, I always get taken for an Australian when I'm in the U.S. - not quite sure why that is!)

Mike,
Of course this sounds obvious I definitely recommend having a qualified ( cancer trained ) ENT take a look at you ASAP. I went on for several months going from dentist to periodontist to endodontist, thinking I had gum or tooth problem, and later had M.D. friend look at dry, sore throat, and, everyone thought, " you're healthy, in great shape, so it is probably just allergies or reflux". Finally I began to have trouble swallowing food and I was forced to see an ENT, who, after first a barium swallow xray and then a scope down the nose ( done in the office), immediately diagnosed cancerous lesion at base of tongue.
Point is, if I had caught it early enough perhaps a little surgery would have removed everything rather than letting it evolve to Stage IV with neck nodes.
So, my advice...when in doubt...check it out!!

Danny G.

Just following up my original post as promised...

I went to see an MD a week or so ago and he was convinced it was a straightforward sore, albeit one which recurred frequently.

Anyway he gave me a paste to rub on the area (first time I used any form of treatment) and asked me to monitor it for 2-3 weeks max before going to see an ENT specialist.

Since this time the sore has markedly reduced in size and is no longer sensitive (no discomfort or pain). There's still a very small red dot but there's no doubt the whole thing has notably reduced. For reassurance however I visited a second (different) dentist for another view yesterday. He confirmed the presence of the "tiny" red dot but stated that the area appeared healthy. He asked me to come see him if changed in any way so that he could check for anything.

Forgive my ignorance of this whole area, but I am interested to understand whether the sore would reduce in this way if it were anything other than a sore? MDs (and dentists) can make you feel the world's hypochondriac and I am reluctant to unnecessarily pursue the matter having received three views to the contrary; particular as the paste has undeniably made a difference.

With best regards
Mike

If it were cancer, applying anything topically to it would have had no impact on the cancer.....God don't we all wish there was a magic potion out there that would do this. Congratulations, while we always welcome newcomers, we are grateful for every person who does not become a member of our club.

Mike, re recurring 'bump' ... my husband had his 'bump' return 17 months later.
I just answered a friends query with the following:
Actually, NO symptoms or pain. When he went to the dental hygienist for his 3 month cleaning, she noticed a lump, fairly large on the roof of his mouth, and called the dentist in. He looked and sent him back to the oral surgeon, who'd treated (took a sample for biopsy) him August a year ago. That biopsy came back negative.
When we re-visited him, he later said he thought right away "UH OH" .. did another biopsy, a HUGE one (reason for George's pain for 2 weeks) and it came back 'mucoepidermoid carcinoma' - cancer of the salivary gland in palate.. They didn't get it all, even with that large excision .. Pathology came back NO clean margins, so now he will see an oral oncology surgeon, who will probably schedule him first for CTscan or MRI (not sure) blood work, chest xray (rule out metastasis to lungs) ...
IF it wasn't already cancer 17 months ago, and missed ... the prognosis is good. It is a low grade cancer.
IF it WAS cancer then, it's had time to grow. This type of cancer surrounds itself in a 'cyst', which George had, both times, to protect itself, or whatever..
We'll know a little more about future testing on Thursday, and how that turns out will determine the surgery and if he will need radiation. < If that is the case, they will first extract his teeth because the radiation can ruin 'em...
I wish that first oral surgeon had gone further the first time.
Best to you.
:)marie