Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I'm a 52 year old male, nonsmoker, very light drinker. I was diagnosed with dysplasia in my mouth several times, always in the same general area, although separate occurences. On my recent check ups (every six months), there is no evidence of regrowth in my mouth. I now have a swollen lymph node in the back of my head near where all the activity was. Could it be related? Can cancer develop without obvious symptoms somewhere in your oral cavity? I've see my dentist regularly and have seen an ENT twice. Does oral cancer show up on blood tests? I've got a physical next week and they always do a blood panel. anything to look for? Last year, my LDH was slightly elevated and my physician wasn't concerned.

Thanks much! Billy

Hi there ! Welcome! t - I don't believe it shows up in blood tests - and yes a tumor can be of occult origin (sometimes a primary tumor is hidden or resolves itself leaving behind a node) - behind your head? I suppose it's possible though usally they're found in under the jaw area. Definitely have it checked out but try not t worry too much... good luck!

Hi Billy! Oral cancer will not appear on a blood test. Dysplasia does not always turn into cancer. Swollen lymph nodes are usually a sign of infection or illness. It doesnt always mean cancer. My lymph nodes were not swollen any of the 3 times I had cancer. Hope you continue to be cancer free!

Billy,

If you have a painless swollen node you get someone like a ENT to do a FNA (fine needle aspiration) on it ASAP. Many of us that were Dx'ed with HPV+ oral cancer only had a swollen painless node as our first evidence. Check out my Signature Line below. That's how I found out I was a Stage IV!

Hi Billy,
I had voice changes,an once in a while a sharp ear pain and shortness of breath, and the more I talked the deeper my voice got until it sometimes stopped altogether. I believed it was allergies. MY doc sent me for a brochoplasty of the lungs and he called an ENT before I even left the office and sat up an apt.

I had polyps removed twice over a ten year period and finally stopped smoking cold turkey 2 months before the diagnosis. Never put off going to an ENT. They caught mine just in time.

Blessings to you,
~Barb

We only found Kevin's through the painless swollen lymph node too. After the fact I realized he had many other symptoms for several months before dx.

Hi, Billy
Most of the time lumps and bumps are just that, but it pays to followup carefully if you are not certain of something. The FNA on my husband's swollen node did not pick up any of the cancer cells on the inner surface - only the necrotic tissue generated by his body fighting the cancer. In addition, the tumor itself was not picked up on the original CT scan. Fortunately, the ENT didn't 'like' the look of one one of my husband's tonsils, and refered him to a specialist. The primary tumor did light up the PET that our specialist ordered. The primary tumor was just barely obvious on the associated CT.

As far as blood work goes - a heightened white cell count could point to an infection that could be the cause of the swelling.

I realize that our case is not what anyone would call reassuring, and I am sorry for that, but it does point up the importance of the doctor and his/her abilities, professionalism, and familiarity with oral cancer.