Posted 08 May 2008 02:21 PM
I'm a 33 year old Male. I've had this ulcer on my tongue for over 2 months now.

I first thought it was a canker it was hurting when i ate salty foods ect. but i've never had one before. After 3 weeks i called my Dentist to have him look at it. He saw my Ulcer at the 4 week mark and told me that if it wasn't getting any better in three weeks to call an oral surgeon and he gave me a refferal.

over the next several weeks i noticed it less because it stop'd hurting as much. Also some days the area would look just a bit red and others it would have a white look to part of it. (like the skin lifted up in that area)

I saw the oral sergeon and he told me that it most likely isn't a canker because they don't last that long. He has sceduled me to have a piece of the area cut off to be anylized on May 13th (5 days from today)

One of my worries is that it might be cancer but i'm not a smoker or drink all that much. I feel like i don't fit any of the risk factors for it.

When i feel my tongue i feel no lumps and when i touch the ulser its smooth. the best way to describe the pain is when you burn your mouth on hot pizza cheese and 1 to 2 days later its still irritated.

I took a picture to show a nurse friend of mine and here it is. It was taken at the 4 week point of the ulser. this is when it hurt the most. today 6 weeks later It doesn't look as bright red and the white spot comes and goes. One day the white spot is there then the next its smaller or gone.

Note: I have Geographic Tongue (i think the white line above the ulser is due to that condition and not part of the ulser?)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d22/Gurik/Tonguecanker.jpg



Thanx for your help in advance!

Whatever it may be the biopsy is the surest way to confirm cancer. Also note that there are factors other than tobacco and alcohol that can cause oral cancer but lets wait and see what the biopsy says before we jump to any conclusions. Good luck on the results.

Hi KMD.

Don't be alarmed by my signature. You won't likely be in my shoes. I'm glad you are getting it biopsied so that you know what it is for sure. I'm 34 (was 33 when diagnosed) and I too didn't have the typical risk factors Although I did smoke on occassion in college and little after but haven't at all since 2001. I oly drink beer and wine and not heavily. I saw a dentist and 2 different drs before finally getting to an ENT who took a biopsy..

Tongue cancer can be caused by many diff things. Another patient of my oncologist who also has tongue cancer thinks she got it from a tongue ring she had- I've read that after repeated trauma to an area the skin cells can sometimes come back cancerous. I think that is what happeed to me because I tested negative for hpv but had tons of dentistry as a kid and teenager. Who knows.

Anyways- don't worry about all of this unless the results are cancer.I'm hoping for a negative biopsy for you.

Good luck and I hope that sore goes away!

Have a fun weekend.

BTW I am leading a full happy life again after a crazy surgery and intense cancer treatments K

I am a dentist and a tongue cancer survivor as you can see below. As David said above, you are doing the right thing by getting the biopsy done as that is the only way you will know for sure what your lesion is. Any sore that doesn't go away by itself after 10 days to 2 weeks should be biopsied.

I had a biopsy done on a sore that wouldn't go away also, and it did turn out to be squamous cell carcinoma. Many times, however, there are other reasons why the sore is there. Could you have a rough filling or tooth in the area? Could you be biting it or irritating the area another way?

The picture you linked to your post is a bit fuzzy and even if it wasn't fuzzy, it would be impossible for anyone to tell you if what is there is cancer.

I hope that the results are negative, but if they are not, you will be able to get answers to many questions that you have, right here on this forum and in the main section of the site.

Please let us know how you make out.

Thank you all for your posts. My biopsy is 3 days away and my wife and I are concerned. My wife is pregant w/ our 2nd baby due June 6th, so anytime now! We just really wanna know the results.

I've been on several forums and the feedback has been very helpful. We feel hopeful learning that theres quite a number of things this could be besides cancer and that because of my medical history the odds are in my favor.(none smoker, not a heavy drinker,no family history of oral cancer, etc.)

how long does it normally take to get the results of a biopsy?

In response to Wilckdds - The ulcer is on the bottom part of my tongue under where my teeth bite so i don't really think its due to rubbing my teeth or biting. Also if you shrink the window my picture pops up in it will be smaller and much clearer. But as you said even looking at it doesn't really matter. The internet has tons of pictures of different mouth ulcers and such but none really look like mine.

Thanx again for taking the time to post!!

I had a FNA that took 2 weeks to come back and I called almost every day and I had a biopsy while under surgery that they did before they finished with me so it just depends on how urgent they think it is I guess.

Waiting for results of any kind dealing with the C word is most disturbing.

KMD,
I agree with your process. A biopsy will tell you exactly what the problem is. We all say here that it is not cancer until the biopsy says its cancer. Try not to worry, I know that's easier said than done, distract yourself. I looked at your picture I see you have an ulcer on your tongue. Like Jerry said it is impossible for someone to look at a picture and tell you if it is cancer and I know you know that.
In my opinion you are taking the right course of action.
I hope everything works out for you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Cheers,
Mike

Update

I went for my biopsy today and instead of taking out just a small piece he ended up taking a good portion out. basicly he took the ulcer out. He told me that he doen't think it is cancer adding that the biopsy will tell exacty what it is and scheduled a follow up appointment a week from today to make sure my tongue healed well and to go over my biopsy results. I told him i was a bit worried about the possibility of it being cancer and he told me that he would call me asap when he gets the results. If i don't hear from him by friday he told me to call him.

Easier said than done...stop thinking about it because there's nothing you can do to make it different, whatever it is. Lets hope he gets back to you ASAP.

The results of my biopsy came back and I'm happy to say they came back negative! So I guess now the big question is how did I end up with an ulser that wouldn't go away? I see my oral surgeon again on Tuesday to check how my tongue is healing ect. I'm sure he'll talk to me more about it then. My primary care doctor saw me last thursday and said it may be a condition called Lichens Planus.

Thank you all for you help and support!

Hi KMD,

So glad to hear your biopsy came back negative for CA!
Will the biopsy results be available to find out if it is lichens planus? I go for a biopsy 6/2 and hope to find out conclusively what is in my mouth.

I think so. He said he'll talk to me more on Tuesday.

Great news.

Thanks for sharing the great news. Congratulations.

Judging from the looks of the ulcer in the picture you posted, it doesn't look like Lichen Planus at all.

I would be curious to know what the oral surgeon has to say about the biopsy results.

Jerry

It's so nice to read a post that someone doesn't have OC. Maybe someday we can all say the same thing . Good Luck in the future with the new baby when he makes his appearance KMD. I bet you are a good daddy.