| | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 | I have 4 small bumps in my cheek tissue that showed up a few years ago - they look whitish when I pull my cheeks tight. They haven't grown in size or caused pain over the years, but they have been there the whole time. Dentist hasn't ever commented on them, and I was too chicken to mention them specifically. Well, started dipping again for about 4 months earlier this year - they all seemed to flare up. Quit 8 weeks ago & they are receeding again; however, this time I went to the dentist & showed him as I was concerned.
He referred me to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. Biopsy finally happens this Friday. I've been freaking out since - and I concur with the posters, my wife doesn't seem to understand my concern here & I feel quite alone. To make matters worse, my throat has gotten tight over the last week - I'm pretty sure due to anxiety as I've had a hard time sleeping & almost go to a panic point at times, but who knows really...
Last edited by ChristineB; 10-10-2011 09:13 PM.
Scared father of 4, biopsy in 1 week
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Try to relax until you have the biopsy and get a definitive answer! Focus on other things , read a book... Garden... And please try to stay away from the tobacco - it may be irritation related to it. Just keep an eye on it and good luck!
Last edited by ChristineB; 10-10-2011 09:13 PM.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Welcome to OCF! Im glad you are having a biopsy done. Its better to be safe than sorry. I know its difficult waiting for the biopsy, then you will probably have to wait another week until the results come back. Try to keep yourself very busy to help keep your mind off the "what if's". Im glad to hear you have stopped using dip. All tobacco products have many chemicals in them that can irritate your mouth. Please let this be a wake up call to never return to using tobacco. Best wishes with your biopsy, hope it turns out to be nothing serious.
Last edited by ChristineB; 10-10-2011 09:13 PM.
ChristineSCC 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  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Stop using ALL tobacco products!
Wait for the bio results and lets hope their negative but in any event....
Stop using ALL tobacco products!
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.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | I was going to say what Cheryl said about it may be due to irritation from dip. That in itself is a good reason to quit before it does turn cancerous, which I sincerely hope it is not.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 | Thank you for your replies - I have quit chewing and definitely won't do it again. I am pretty scared still - but trying to relax as best as I can. Still having trouble sleeping & my throat seems to get tight\my breath short when I am not working / doing something productive to keep my mind free. My wife thinks I am a hypochondriac, I hope she is right. I have my biopsy on the 14th - I'll let everyone know one way or the other once I get the results back.
Tony
Scared father of 4, biopsy in 1 week
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 3 | For others that may see this, the following post sums up my feelings so far quite accurately and may help you as well... http://oralcancerfoundation.org/emotional/diagnosis.htm
Last edited by tnewc59; 10-11-2011 01:26 PM.
Scared father of 4, biopsy in 1 week
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Tony, glad to see you are making use of the main pages of OCF. Too often the main site is overlooked. It has tons of important info on it. Best wishes with your biopsy! Please come back and let us know how you make out.
ChristineSCC 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 | | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | Good luck. I will be praying that you get good news. -Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
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