Hi there. Glad to be in the forum, yet extremly anxious.

I noticed the other day I have 2 white patches on my inner cheeks at both sides of my mouth. The left side is bigger.

Now I am bearing in mind I do chew my cheeks as I have epilepsy and have a chew line that is white but this patch is bigger, roundish and completly numb when I poke it with my tweezers (as is the other patch)

Its not a growth, if anything it would be an erosion, but hard to tell cause of the bite line.

I have had a prickly throat also for about a week with a slight cough but that symptom I get when Im about to get a cold...and I have been leaving my fan on at night.

I am very very worried

By the descrption, .. white patches on cheeks.. numb... Im 29 and smoker of 7 years a pack a day, could this be cancer ?

I am going to make a dental app today asap but I know you guys here probably have exp and someone may have had the same symptom so Im just wondering.

I am not feeling weak or having appetite issues.

Thanks.

PS the bite line sticks out, whereas the patches are about an inch in diameter and round and dont.

I can't answer the question, but wanted to say welcome to the site. I know others will be along at some point today to help.
Kathy

Chewing your cheeks could definitely damage them. Some people believe that long term chronic irritation can cause cancer, and it's a possibility that the issue is exacerbated by smoking, that said its probably not, but if you've had it for more than three weeks, and it's unhealing or getting worse then it's best to have it checked out but someone who knows oral cancer, ENT, dentist, oral surgeon. Bottom line I'd quit smoking regardless... Good luck!

The white discoloration could be a number of things, it's called dysplasia and could be a Lichenoid reaction, Lichen Planus or a number of other issues in the mouth. They are not necessarily cancerous however they do have a fairly high percentage chance to become cancerous over time according to Dr. Edmond Truelove and his research at the University of Washington's school of Oral Medicine.

I was fortunate enough to not only attend his lecture at the Pacific Northwest Dental Convention, I was introduced on stage to share a bit of my story and announce the Seattle Oral Cancer Awareness Walk. Afterwards I got to speak to Dr. Truelove about his researcher and even make a very good connection and become Facebook friends with one of his researchers.

The UW uses the VELScope early detection system to monitor any dysplastic tissues in the mouth as according to their research it detected cancerous lesions 100% of the time, when Dr. Truelove and his staff of clinicians only detected it 60% of the time with current methods. The VELScope was also used to accurately define surgical margins and the best places to biopsy, as a biopsy is the only way to get a cancer diagnosis.

My advice to you is to first and foremost, quit smoking...if you haven't heard, it causes cancer, specifically Oral Cancer which is a "F'N" horrible way to die. Secondly find a Oral Medicine Professional in your area that uses a VELScope and is familiar with Oral Cancer to take a look at the dysplasia and then have them biopsy a few areas within the dysplastic area to check for cancer.

Don't freak out though, trust me on this as worrying and stress can weaken the immune system. Take the steps outlined above as they give you the best chance at catching it early if it is cancer, which gives you the best chance at survival and minimal side effects.

Hope that helps,

Eric

Welcome to OCF! Sure hope you do NOT need our forum!

The white patches could be anything, and yes they could be cancer too. Only a biopsy will determine exactly what you have. A well trained medical professional such as an ENT (ear, nose and throat doc) may have suspicions of what it is by sight but will need a biopsy to confirm it.

As others have said....QUIT SMOKING NOW!!!!! This could be cancer and you are not too young to have it. I am a former smoker so I know quitting isnt easy but if you put your mind to it you can do it. I have worked with the CDC on their Tips From Former Smokers campaign. Those people in the ads are real and they have had their lives forever changed due to smoking. I live a life of being disfigured and stared at everywhere I go which is only one of my medical problems, all from smoking. Tobacco has hundreds chemicals added to it to make it more addictive, there are many irritants in there too. Get rid of the tobacco for good and let this be your wake up call never to touch the stuff again. You do NOT want to live a life like I do all over something you choose to do. I know this sounds harsh but its reality and my life is very difficult but I do try to make the most of it by helping others. Want to see what I look like, think Im exaggerating? Here's a link to check out, click on the photo of Christine. There are a couple videos there if you want to watch them. Most important is that you can see what tobacco did to me and learn from this. I dont want this to happen to anyone else.

Unsweetened Truth (Christine)

I wish you the very best luck with getting in to see a specialist. Please hang in there and stay busy while the waiting game begins. Good luck!!!!

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Unsweetened Truth (Christine)

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Respect.