Hello,

I understand the limitations of this board, that a diagnosis is impossible to expect over the internet, but seeing as I'm a couple of days away from another appointment, I thought I'd ask.

I'm a 20 year male student. I have noticed a small lump (flesh colored, relatively), I would almost say abscess, above my right lingual tonsil. The area where the tongue meets the back of the mouth. It's painless and I just spotted it a couple of days ago. I didn't wait the fourteen or five days to go check it out, I'm assuming it's nothing, but...

In total, I've smoked around a year or so. Sporadically, a month or weeks would go by, not a heavy user. I have been sick for the past month. First with a stomach flu, then with a cold which has been exacerbated by allergies. I went into a doctor on Friday about my cold and asked questions about the health of my mouth. I asked her if everything looked okay, if the coloration in my mouth was fine, she said yes. She also said my tonsils looked good, I'm assuming my lingual tonsils (my palatine tonsils were removed when I was younger). I digress, she didn't mention the lump but I (incorrectly?) assumed she saw it. She did ask me about my geographic tongue, but that's not an issue.

I was diagnosed with a viral infection and for me to simply get rest and take allergy medicine, to avoid excess drainage. I cannot tell if my difficulty swallowing is from drainage or the minor lump. I'm going to schedule another appointment tonight, but I'm wrecked with worry. I had another cancer scare earlier in my semester where I thought an area on my gums was cancerous. Apparently, it was caused by me grinding my teeth at night.

In short, I have a dentist appointment in a couple of weeks and will go into see a doctor as soon as possible. I know it's rare for a person in my age range, even with tobacco use, but I'm terribly upset. My roommate is a former nurse and told me what is normally associated with oral cancer, that I don't fit the general guidelines.

Should I wait until my cold to clear up? Wait and see my dentist in December? Would it be wise to go back to the school infirmary and see another doctor or seek a specialist? I'm not really sure what I should do, any advice would help.

Thanks,

Louis

Hi Louis,

It sounds like you are feeling really worried. I suggest going back to your doctor and asking specifically about the lump you are concerned about. My second suggestion is that you quit smoking completely if you haven't already. You said this is your second oral cancer scare. Maybe you worry so much because you know the risks of smoking. It's unlikely that you have oral cancer but it is always a good idea to get these things checked out.

Hi, Louis.
Welcome to the OCF forums. I hope you don't have to be here, but we are here for support and to steer you in the right direction. I completely understand your fears. I'm glad that you are being proactive in your medical care. Many people of your age aren't so tuned into their bodies and think that they are "bullet proof"...been there myself. I also have been exactly where you are now. Rule of thumb is that it's not cancer until a biopsy says so. It's impossible to look at an abnormality in your mouth and make a diagnosis. If you have an area of concern for more than 2-3 weeks, that warrants a trip to an oral surgeon or ENT for an evaluation/biopsy. Please don't let anyone tell you that "it's nothing". I very may very well be nothing, but you'll need a biopsy to prove it.

I am on the younger side and did not have any risk factors or "fit the profile" like you and many others here. Approximately 25% of OC cases have unknown cause. I had oral tongue cancer, which is different than base of the tongue cancer (BOT). I'm not sure if you've been following the news stories lately, but there is a lot being reported on a high-risk strain of HPV which causes certain BOT/oropharyngeal cancer. This is not to scare you, it's just to let you know that you are being smart in seeking a diagnosis. Call your doctor on Monday and ask for a referral to an oral surgeon or an ENT. You should not have to wait more than a week for an appointment. If you call an office and the wait is longer, go somewhere else. Oral cancers are very treatable if caught early. There are many survivors here that have had advanced cancers, went through treatment, and are still here today. That being said, treatment is much easier if you catch the cancer when it is small and has not spread.

When I first came to this website, I had not yet been evaluated/diagnosed. I found it very overwhelming, but that is my anxious personality. There is a lot of valuable, physician-reviewed information on this website. I know it's extremely difficult not to get ahead of yourself. Please do not look at the statistics and freak out. Every case is different and early detection is key.

I thought I was being paranoid in thinking that my symptoms were oral cancer, and it turned out to be true. No one thought it would come back positive, but it did. That is not to say that will be the case for you, but you are not crazy for being worried and seeking information/advice. You are absolutely doing the right thing.

Just put one foot in front of the other and do the next right thing. Be your own advocate and insist on a biopsy because it's been there long enough to warrant one. Hopefully, it is nothing but a nuisance and then you can relax! Please keep coming back to these forums and keep us posted. We are here to answer any questions and help out in any way. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience here and I'm sure you'll find whatever you need.

Best of luck. Nice to "meet" you.

With care,
Kerri

Kerri and msmac,

Thanks for the quick and kind responses, it means a lot. I'm going to go in and meet with another doctor hopefully before my break begins. I'm not sure I'll have time, but it'll be the monday after this if I cannot get an appointment. I want to meet with a doctor one more time to check and see if it's not a bacteria infection of the mucous gland or some other issue before making an exterior visit (ENT or oral surgeon). Since I've been resting, taking fluids, and not smoking, it doesn't feel as prominent. Then again, I am not a physician.

I'm still very concerned but have set a timeline as to not obsess over it. Trying to understand it in the mirror is pointless, you're absolutely right. It's only been a few days since I've seen it, after all.

I'll stay on top of it, but reassuring words definitely helped me and I expected nothing less.

Thanks again,

Louis

At any age, a person can develop all kinds of different sores in their mouth. I do suggest you get it checked out but wait until its been there for 2 weeks. Most sores will disappear within that time.

Most small family doctor practices are not familiar with mouth issues. If you make an appointment, normally they will ask how long the sore has been there before you are scheduled. You should be going to an ENT, oral surgeon or dentist who does biopsies. Most small family doctor practices are not familiar with mouth issues.

I know you are worried, but it is best to wait the 2 weeks so the doctor is better able to determine what the problem is. Only thru a biopsy will they be able to tell you for sure if it is cancer. Experienced doctors can tell by looking at a sore if they suspect its something that will resolve itself.

Im one who tries not to look at statistics. My history shows that not everybody fits neatly into those numbers. Even though you do not fit the profile, cancer can happen. Im hoping it is not your diagnosis with this sore. Just make sure that with your examination that your doctor isnt just relying on your young age as their basis of determining what is wrong in your mouth.

Do yourself a favor and make not smoking a way of life! There are all kinds of bad chemicals in cigarettes which can cause alot of health issues. Congrats on your success with not smoking!

Hi there - all the info given here is accurate and very right! Just wishing you good luck, and welcoming you - and I too very very much hope you don't have to be here. Take care

Thanks for all the responses.

I went back into the Student Health Center and saw another doctor. Since I've been sick, she did a throat swab which came back negative for strep (with a long form strep culture coming). I asked if it was a cyst or an abscess, she seemed mortified with the question and told me no. Most importantly, she told me it was just swelling in the back of my mouth as a side effect of my cold. I'm not presenting symptoms for Mono or Thrush (which is what I thought it was after examining my tongue). The only other thing she told me was that it could be a minor infection, but didn't mention the need for anti-biotics.

Hopefully that's it, but I'll keep an eye on it. In essence, I was told to drink hot tea and rest more. I might go back in after my holiday break if I'm not feeling any better.

Thanks again for the support and quick replies.

Sincerely,

Louis

Good luck, don't wait until after christmas - if it's still there In 2-3 weeks have it looked at again.