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Joined: Aug 2010
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Hello all!

I do not have a cancer diagnosis, but I am very concerned about myself. I have had a small white lump, perhaps 1-2mm on my gum on the left front of my upper teeth for some time. By some time, I mean at least a year. I have always been prone to get fever blisters, canker sores and that sort of thing, so I ignored it. Further, it has remained very stable in size and did not change at all for the whole time. I have recently noticed it seems to have grown. By coincidence I read an article this Friday on oral cancer. It got me to considering this lump on my gums. Clearly, this lump could be oral cancer and now I am convinced that it is. The mental pressure has broken me down. I am whacked.

I called my dentist and I am trying to get in ASAP.

Questions:

How long is too long for it ot have been there?

How long did you all notice your symptoms prior to seeking help/diagnosis?

How long does it take for the brush biopsy results to come back? I need to know asap as I am falling apart.

What stage were you when diagnosed?

Could this lump be something else? Is it more likely to be something else or not?

Right now I am whacked. If it is cancer I will never forgive myself for not acting sooner. I am a father with two young children.

Does anyone have any comments or information for me?

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First off calm way down. The chances that this is cancer is not that good especially if you have had it for a year. The type of cancer one normally gets in the oral cavity is called squamous cell and it is usually very aggressive and fast growing. Untreated some patients die within a year of it appearing. There are many things this spot or lump could be beside cancer but you need to be seen by a trained specialist to get your answers.

I personally would skip the dentist level and seek an ENT.

A brush biopsy is not very reliable so again I would get to an ENT.



David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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Thanks for this information. Tell me more about the brush biopsy. Why is it not reliable? What will the ENT do differently?

Thanks again!

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Texas - I agree with David. From everything I've read and experienced it sounds as if you likely don't have cancer. He is also right in that an ENT is the person to see. I don't have personal experience with a brush biopsy but again, from what I've read, getting a "full" biopsy from an MD is the gold standard for determining whether a lump is malignant or not. I'm sure someone else can give you more details about the brush. But especially as you're so worried, an MD would both be more medically knowledgable and help put your mind at ease.

David 2


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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Yeah Tex...listen to David and calm down.

1st) It's not cancer...because a biopsy hasn't told the Dr to tell you that it's cancer.

2nd) Nothing else matters other then making the appt with the ENT and getting a biopsy done. Any other information will just add to your stress level.

So the moral...stop freakn out and get it checked out.

Hope that helps and oh yeah...welcome to OCF!

Eric


Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
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Thank you all. I will get it checked out ASAP.

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Just FYI, my husband's lesion was first seen by his dentist, who referred him to an oral surgeon for the initial biopsy.

Given that this is on your gum, your dentist may make a referral to an oral surgeon (a dentist who has had additional extensive training in mouth surgery), rather than an ENT. An oral surgeon's biopsy is NOT the same as a brush biopsy, which is done by a general dentist.

When the pathology report came back indicating that the whole lesion should be removed, the oral surgeon then made the referral to the ENT who did that surgery.


Leslie

April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
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Thanks for all of this information. How large are these lesions? Mine is very small, but it has been in my mouth a long time. I would say it is 1-3mm. Does that matter?

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How long does it take to get back the results of a brush biopsy?

What about the real/tissue biopsy?

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The results will take about a week to come back.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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