Hi, everyone! This is my first post here.

I'm Mickey, 27 years old. About three weeks ago, I got this ulcer in my mouth. Since I've always had ulcers, I didn't pay much attention to this. However, unlike the previous ones, this one doesn't hurt, and about 4days ago, it started to grow, and still doesn't hurt now. I felt it with my fingers and could feel some hard particles underneath its edge. It's now about 0.4 by 0.23 inches in an irregular shape. I have already scheduled with an oral surgeon, but it would be two weeks later! I'm now worried sick that it might be oral cancer and can't do anything right, been distracted all day long thinking about it. According to my symptoms, are there any other explanations than cancer that it might be?

Mickey, I'm going to let the more knowledgeable folks give you the benefit of their wisdom. And there are many here. The first thing I will say though is: relax. As we'll all tell you, it's not cancer until a biopsy proves it.

There are plenty of different things that could be happening to you (see my first comment), but leukoplakia is the first that pops into my non-expert mind. I'd recommend you check out the wikipedia page about it, and that may lead you to other possible explanations. At least you'll get a sense of the many things that happen in our mouths that AREN'T cancer.

Actually the first thing you might do is just go to the main page here at OCF. Click around, you'll learn tons of stuff that I hope will help you get a handle on your nerves.

We've all been in your position. Wondering whether we have cancer or not. Re-read the last sentence in my first paragraph.

I have no doubt you'll get lots more detailed info from subsequent posters.

Now take a deep breath! Let it out. Do it again.

Thank you for your suggestion David! I know that worries don't help at all before the result of the biopsy, but I just can't shake it off my head. I'm now searching 'round OCF for more information on this, and trying to be less concerned about it for now.

Hi Mickey. I hope your sore turns out to be nothing at all. There are many different things it could be. Anything that has been there for 2 weeks or longer should be checked out. I know 2 weeks seems like a very long time to wait til you get checked but it wont change things. Alot of doctors will first do a consultation, next visit the biopsy and the third visit will be the results. Make sure you are seeing an oral surgeon who is familiar with oral cancer. Stay calm, it wont help things to be upset. Try to keep busy to help keep your mind off worrying. Hope you dont need to be here but if you do we will help guide you. Best wishes!

Thank you a lot Christine! I am scheduling with an oral surgeon. I will try my best to stay calm about it and occupy my mind with something else.

Try getting in with an ENT you might be able to see one sooner... Good luck!

Hi Mickey - I'm so glad you found this place! Hope you get to see the Oral Surgeon or ENT very soon. The waiting when you don't know for sure what the problem is can be so-o-o stressful! It really doesn't hurt to call (or have someone call for you) to try and get in sooner. Often they can schedule you in sooner or switch their appointments around or even let you know about someone else's cancellation and fit you in. No sense prolonging the waiting and wondering if you don't have to. Once you find out what's happening, you will feel a LOT better and be able to do something about it. Let us know what's happening, ok?

Thanks everyone! I tried to schedule with an ENT, but my student insurance doesn't include any ENT surgeons. I was lucky enough to have a reschedule with the oral surgeon next Tuesday, so it would be only one week.

I know
there is no way you are going to relax and not worry about this but, while we do have people your age who have had cancer, the odds are on your side at your age. If you don't smoke, chew or drink excessively, all the better. Good luck to you and please let us know whichever way it goes.

Since I couldn't wait for another 4 or 5 days, I went to the Emergency at our local hospital today, and an assistant physician had it checked. I told him it was there for three weeks and I went there only because of its irregular shape, big size and painlessness. He looked into it and felt underneath it and then checked the other parts of the inside of my mouth, said it was only canker sore. And although I did not mention it, he assured me that it was not cancer. He prescribed me some magic mouthwash and Motrins, and told me to schedule a follow up it doesn't get better in four days. So guess I could relieve and cancel my appointment with the oral surgeon now. Thank you everybody for your responses and support!

Hi Mickey:
Wonderful news, and more than likely the ER doctor is correct. Since you already have the appointment with the oral surgeon, just so "you" will feel 100% sure, I'd go to that appointment. Some of the best surgeons perform in hospital Emergency Rooms, so if you don't go, you have your answer.
julieann

I dont want to discredit the physician you saw but it is unlikely he was familiar with oral cancer lesions. Canker sores hurt, oral cancer doesnt. My tumor looked to me exactly like a canker sore so I ignored it. Of course a biopsy was needed to confirm exactly what the 'canker sore' was. Im not trying to make you worry but to be certain you will need a biopsy. Here is a photo gallery from the main OCF pages with picture of all kinds of different spots. It shows how difficult it would be to tell what something is just by looking. Since it has been there for over 2 weeks you should have it checked. Please let us know how it turns out. Good luck!

Gallery of lesions
Make sue to click on the picture and then click on the diagnosis to see what the patient was diagnosed with.

I would keep your appointment with the oral surgeon, it doesnt hurt to get a second opinion, and that way if it hasn't healed you can hear what he has to say. good luck!

Now I'm getting nervous again. I still keep the appointment on Tuesday, and will go there to have it seen thoroughly if thing doesn't seem to get well. Thanks!

Definitely see someone who is trained to look at these lesions. An ER doctor gave me false assurances early on in my journey through this. It was a big mistake on his part, potentially life threatening for me.

Does anyone know if I were to need to take a biopsy, how much would it cost? I'm a student and my insurance company wouldn't cover the fee so I might have to take it all out of my own pocket.

Why wouldn't your insurance company cover it? It should. Others???
julieann

They said they only cover sickness or injury, but if it's turned out to be an ordinary one, it would not be covered. As to cancer screening they only cover prostate and colorectal cancer.

Wow, that sounds strange - only selecting two kinds of cancers to screen. I guess different insurances cover different things. I'm sure if you do have to pay for a biopsy out of your pocket, you could make payments. I'm still amazed that insurance only covers those two type cancers. What type insurance is it?
julieann

It's Professional Service, Inc. for International Students and Scholars, mine is the plan with $50 deductible. This is why I'm a little concerned about the cost of biopsy because if it's too much I might not be able to afford it.

You need to get this checked. Somehow it needs to be part of your budget. If you need a biopsy and dont get one you are taking a huge risk with your health. Oral cancer doesnt just go away buy itself, without treatment a patient will die. Please rethink your situation and get yourself checked out.

I will get the biopsy, I just want to know the rough number of the cost of it. Will it past $200? Thank you!

Also the edge of the ulcer seemed to start to fade away and blend into the skin around it today, and I could feel a little pain on the edges, is it an indication of recovering or worsening?

Sorry I have so many questions. There are still more than two days till my appointment with oral surgeon, and I'm still concerned about it.

How did it go, mickey?

I was wondering the same thing!

Thank you Brian and Christine for your concern!

I had the biopsy this Tuesday, the results will come out next Friday, so slow. The surgeon said it was not cancer, but he didn't know what it was and recommended the biopsy.

However, it's been four days after the biopsy, my lower lip still feels numb and a little swelling. Also, the wound on the site with the suture inside my mouth now has expanded and hardened, and more ulceration. And there is a big hole also. Is this a normal reaction after biopsy? Is it possible that the biopsy stimulate the growth of tumor?

The surgeon uses devices to allow good access to the areas that are being biopsied. Sometimes, the pressure they put on resecting the tissues in the mouth will cause swelling and numbness. My husband's tongue was numb on one side for more than a couple of days when he had his diagnostic tonsillectomy and random mouth biopsies.

I hope your post-surgical symptoms go away soon!

Thank you Sandy! I hope it is just the effects of biopsy. The wound has gotten really big and ugly these days that it makes me start to worry it's the tumor growth. Hope this will gradually go away.

Fingers crossed~~~