| | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 | I have an issue, a white patch on the left upper rear of my mouth, concentrated headache/numb patches on the left side of my face, and I've been using chewing tobacco for about 4 years (mainly chewed on the lower right corner of the mouth). I just quit a month ago but I'm noticing these issues pop up and it's beginning to scare me a bit.
It's the weekend here, my doctor is out. I haven't seen the dentist in years due to how hard the economy has hit me (like a ton of bricks)/lack of insurance.
I should get checked out soon I know... I'm hoping tomorrow I can get in. Where should I go first? Doctor, or dentist? This is out of pocket for me so I want to try and figure out where I can get answers ASAP without blowing a college loan payment/my savings account away. | | | | | 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 | An ENT - qualified and very familiar with oral cancer. It could be nothing but it wouldn't hurt to make sure.
Great on stopping the tobacco! Let us know how things go & good luck
Last edited by Cheryld; 02-12-2012 10:54 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: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 | Thanks Cheryl, the doctor I usually use specializes in "internal medicine"... do you think I should seek out another one that does ENT or maybe save that for a second opinion if I am not happy with my regular doctors answer? | | | | | 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 | You should find a qualified ENT who specializes in oral cancer patients. Any sore you have in your mouth for over 2 weeks should be checked by a professional. Glad to see you have quit using tobacco, it could have caused your mouth problem.
An Internal medicine doctor will not be able to help you with a possible oral cancer issue.
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: Dec 2010 Posts: 291 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 291 | I know you should seek out a specialist for your situation, an ENT. I would try to go to one who sees lots of cancer patients. Hopefully you don't have it, but that sort of individual will be best.
Best,
Anne
SCC tongue 9/2010, excised w/clear margins:8 X 4 mm, 1 mm deep
Neck Met, 10/2010, 1 cm lymph node; 12/21/'10: Neck Diss 30 nodes, 29 clear, micro ECE node, part tongue gloss, no residual scc
IMRT & 6 cisplatin 1/20/11-2/28/11 at MDA
GIST tumor sarcoma, removed 9/2011, no chemo needed
Clear on both counts as of Fall, 2021
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 | ENT appointment made for tomorrow. I'll keep you guys updated. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | That's good. Fingers crossed for you.
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | 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 | Great job at getting an appointment so fast. Make sure the ENT is familiar with treating oral cancer patients. I hope you have nothing serious wrong. Be safe and get a thorough exam. Good luck!
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: 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 |
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: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 5 | ENT said all was good from the mouth to the vocal cords. The white patch was the saliva gland releasing a whitish saliva, probably mucus filled as it is allergy season around here and he did notice some mucus in the nose. The headaches also started going away after we got some rain here... makes me wonder if it took the Excedrin that long to kick in or if the almond trees that are in bloom really put that much cr*p in the air. He said to come back if the headaches start up again and he'll order a CT.
Thank you all, and thank you Christine for that last post. I made sure to press him just to make sure he was competent in the areas I had concerns in.
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