Hello, Mo here.

First of, all of you who are diagnosed are so wonderful to talk to everyone who posts here with questions and fear about symptoms. That is wonderful of you guys to help people like that.

So, without further ado, let me become another one of those people...

9.25
I've had symptoms now for 6+ weeks. Began with a huge tongue bite, which made me notice a scalloped/slightly enlarged tongue, which I had never noticed before. Nothing much else.

10.5
About 2 weeks later I had a tight throat and external ear pain--left only. I started feeling around in my neck and I feel some non hard, perhaps swollen lymph nodes on the left.

10.19
About a week later, throat became officially sore (still more to left) and I was feeling weak/lightheaded, so went to PCP, who measured my temp at 99.9, took a bacterial throat swab for strep, and, I think, kind of dismissed me. Told me to go to ENT if symptoms persisted in two weeks. No bacterial infection, though it could be viral, I suppose.

10.27
Symptoms did persist and got worse in the next week (mouth swelling, etc). Then got a bit better, but not completely.

10.10
This brings me to current/ongoing symptoms (all on left side):
-tight and sore throat, specifically ulcer feeling at base of tongue on left, which doesn't look particularly inflamed visually
-left ear, head, neck very mild pain/tightness/fullness
-awareness of lymph nodes in left (clicking when swallowing)
-tender spot behind left earlobe/jaw, slight bit firm
-bit of soreness in spots on left neck when I probe with firm pressure
-Lymph bump in left neck still there, though doctors don't seem to notice this

10.10
Visited ENT (pretty solid one, a surgeon, sees cancer). Scoped throat only (not nasal cavity), and found absolutely nothing at all. I mean no redness, inflammation. Nothing. Says to wait three more weeks, and if still having symptoms, come back in, redo scope, and possibly consider scan. No one has done blood work.

Now, I have looked enough to know that you all will probably just tell me to get a biopsy.

But I just wanted to post. Am thinking of seeing another ENT this week/asap for second opinion.

I am 40, female. Really healthy overall--exercise and good weight. Never smoked. Moderate+ alcohol. Do have HPV, but have been screened for cancer causing strain(s) and don't have those (16).

Do you all think I should wait 3 weeks or try to see another ENT? I am just so frustrated. The discomfort and worry is exhausting me as well.

Thanks so much!

First there is nothing obvious to biopsy, at least according to the ENT, so that isn't on the list. Clicking sound is your tempromandibular (TMJ) joint, lymph nodes can become swollen for tons of reasons only one of which is cancer. If they are swollen you will definitely know it, and painful is something that you won't miss, but means infections not cancer. Blood work will not tell you anything about cancer, but a CBC would tell you if you had an infection. Most are bacterial, but there are also viral as you noted and fungal, which if he tested for one he may not have tested for the others. The ENT to scope you, most of the time passes the scope down through your nose after a little numbing spray, and he gets to see it all from the inside of your nose all the way down to your voice box/larynx. While your fever wasn't off the charts, fever usually ties to infections, not cancer.

So having said all that, I have not answered anything really, but just given you more things to consider. People that have base of tongue cancers frequently feel like things are hard to swallow and/or are hoarse for protracted periods. Neither of which do you mention.

Obviously something isn't right. But you have several things you can pursue. You can get another ENT to look, second opinions never hurt. You could get a blood test and see if your white cell count is up, and that would point you towards an infection, you could go really off the scale and get scanned, like an MRI, and that would look for soft tissue masses. (I think right now this is overkill).

Remember that most of us here are NOT doctors, and that whatever we express to you may be correct or not, but we have seen hundreds of people come through here, and their symptomology is usually about the same when it comes to the dangerous stuff. Were I in your shoes, I would go for the second opinion, have that ENT do some blood work to eliminate an ear/throat etc. infection which could be producing some of this. You didn't mention dentist visits, and a tooth abscess could be a culprit to as far as the lymph nodes are concerned.

Clearly anything that has persisted for this long, and your body is not getting rid of, you need to find the answers for. In general though you have symptoms that are a bit over the map, and some of them are not classic oral cancer symptoms. So I hope that comment relieves any anxiety, if not giving you any firm answers.

Brian, I really appreciate the time you've taken to talk to me. I do feel a bit reassured. Thanks so much for that.

Helene, a second opinion never hurts. It sounds like you had a thorough exam being scoped with the ENT. Of course some members will say go for a biopsy. But if the doc cant see anything then he cant biopsy it. The general rule is that a sore that has been in your mouth for over 2 weeks should be checked out. It could be any number of different things besides oral cancer. I think a second opinion would help to ease your mind. Wishing you the best of luck and hope that you do not have anything wrong.

Thank you, Christine. Best wishes to you for health and recovery.

Have you tried just talking to your general doctor?? If it's an infection, they will be the ones most likely to catch it. Sit down with them and tell them all of your symptoms, although sometimes, I find, if I am worrying about things, sometimes my mind will play tricks on me, and make me feel like things are worse then they are!!

Second opinion doesn't hurt, but i would maybe check with your general doc! Mine was the best for a lot of things that my other docs just weren't getting.

Best of luck to you

I am having issues with doctors, really! They all seem to be running me around.

Still having tightness and soreness in left throat, tongue, ear, jaw, temple and tongue swollen, more to left. Visited dentist, who was not of much help. Went to endodontist, since I do have a touchy tooth on upper right. Said I needed root canal, but didn't mention infection or anything and was noncommittal if tooth was cause of all these problems.

Blood work came back negative for infection or thyroid problems. So still confused.

You all are lovely to respond to me. Thanks so much. It is just frustrating!!

Helene,

Seems to me you've had just about everything done, but the nasal scope and the CT/Pet Scan. To relieve your mind you might want to have them done.

It can't hurt to ask your doctor.

Good Luck...take care..

Connie

Helene

As Brian pointed out, the replies to your thread have not been from doctors nor can we diagnose you. I agree with Connie that you should get a nasal scope (endoscope)but my opinion is that you should get a plain old CT scan also. Definitely not a PETscan at this point as that has way too many false positives.
Why? Because the one and only symptom I had for over a year was a "fullness" in my ear that no ENT , dentist, etc could explain. I had clean endoscopes, blood work, etc etc. Yet the CT showed a stage IV tumor at the base of my tongue.
RELAX, this is probably NOT what's wrong with you. Reread Brian's post. But a CT scan would rule your obvious fear of oral cancer out so you can quit worrying about oral cancer. There is nothing to biopsy at this point.

You all are so great. I appreciate your discussing w/ me very much.

Today I did notice something new...a small, maybe 1-2mm flesh colored blister in throat/tonsil just to the left (1 inch or so) of uvula. Ugh. Going crazy here.

Have an appt. with endodontist tomorrow and followup with ENT on Thursday.

You all keep mentioning CT scans--my ENT suggested maybe MRI next--do you all think that's as useful?