can a scope detect cancer? or at least give a warning? when i went to the ent 6 days ago he did a scope and a biopsy on my bump inside my mouth by the back gum area on the cheek!! he did the scope on me and said things looked ok! i get my biopsy results tomorow im so scared you guys... also in january i came down with a terrible sinus infection and i ended up in the hospital they did a mri of my head they thought i had the flu but the nurse said i had a sinus infection, if they would of found something it would of shown on it right?? im freaking out im only 27 years old i dont want to die...

Hi Leo,

First off... take a breath and relax. Even if it is cancer, you're NOT going to die! Treatments are very successful these days. I know you're scared but the fact that your ENT said everything looked Ok is very positive. He's doing his job in checking out anything out of the ordinary.

To answer your question, yes, a scope can indeed detect OC as well as show suspicious lesions, ulcers, abrasions and other areas of concern. Otherwise, a biopsy can determine whether or not an area of concern is cancer. An MRI would show something unusual but it appears there was nothing of concern in January.

Good luck tomorrow!

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

thanks for the response!! yes he did the scope and he did mention that i have large tonsils my left tonsil being bigger than my right but he said thats normal for people to have large tonsils.. im just so scared i have lost over 10 pounds over these last 3 weeks thinking about this!! thanks for the good luck wishes!

There are many types of oral, aerodigestive tract conditions that may be an indication of cancer, pre-maligned condition, and others that may not be as likely that are seen on a visual and palpable inspection, flex scope, endoscopy, lyrgnoscapy, triple scope or pandemoscopy, and anything suspected should have a sample taken from. The only thing that can prove cancer is a biopsy. No scan is 100 percent accurate , PET/CT, MRI, CT, Sonogram, but each are used for different areas, reasons, sometimes combined, and are only as good as the doctor or tech interpreting them.

I don't know about treatment, well I actually do, and you don't want it, and should be avoided by at all costs by stopping smoking and other carcinogenic intake, and living a healthy life, but a positive aspect with SCCHN is that there is more a chance it's not cancer, which is not an easy process anyway, taking 10 mutations, and 100 or so genetic changes to get cancer.

Good luck, and hope you hear good news.

If you have been thoroughly checked out by a doctor who is experienced with treating many OC patients then you can either be ok with their assessment or questioning it. Since you are questioning the exam I suspect you must not feel comfortable with their diagnosis.

The only way to tell for certain is to have a biopsy done of anything that looks questionable. There are scans and certain newer dental tools which can help to identify areas which appear abnormal, but these tests can not tell you that a spot is cancer or not.

Hope the biopsy comes back that its nothing serious! Best wishes!

One is called a blue-spectrum light to identify abnormal areas in the soft tissue.

Hi there.. most patients that are post treatment have scopes on a regular basis they are definitely a tool for diagnosing something if it is visual. The only way to truly determine if something is cancer is a biopsy which you've had. Hopefully the results will be clear. Try not to freak, it could be a number of things not just cancer. It's best to have a scope and biopsy and know that for sure. best of luck.

thank you so much everyone for the replys... still waiting on my biopsy results i called my doctor today and i was crying but he had left the office! so i have to wait tomorow for my results!

keep us posted.