Hey everyone... *waves* I have some questions about some lumps I have in my mouth. I wondered if there was a possibility anybody could offer some advice.

Almost two years ago I noticed a couple of little bumps the roof of mouth. I have very crooked teeth and they are both located behind the two most misaligned ones. When I saw a doctor about this those two years ago, she told me that she thought it was just the roots of the teeth being awkwardly placed due to their misalignment. She told me she was 'not an expert' but she showed no concern and didn't send for any tests or recommend any further action.

My mind was put at rest for a while but recently I just can't help but worry about them again. I do not have any other symptoms of the illness - I have bad breath, but I have mostly assumed that is down to severe chronic IBS and being a smoker - and the lumps have not got any bigger since I first noticed them.

I am seeing a dentist soon but I want to see my GP beforehand, just to check them again as I'm worried... I know it is not possible to diagnose over the internet, but I just wondered if anyone had some advice or suggestions?

Thank you so much,
catfromjapan.

Cat,

First off STOP USING TOBACCO or you will surely be posting a real concern here!!!!!

RE your lumps, no one can really diagnose your lumps in your oral cavity on this site but I can tell you that anything in your mouth that has been static and has no pain for 2 years most likey is nothing to worry about. Get it checked out but I wouldn't spend anymore time thinking about it.

Cat, my doctor also said no issues, and my dentist was the one to catch it. Make sure to mention your concerns to the dentist.

I'm with David ----quit smoking now! It took being diagnosed with tongue cancer at 39 for me to quit. Now I have had half my tongue removed, my neck slit open, and 14 hours of surgery to recover from, not to mention that this was just the start.

I know it's hard to quit. I had smoked since I was 14 and I was at a pack a day, and I liked it. If I can quit, so can you. Don't kid yourself that this cant happen to you.

DITTO to everything Tina said. I was mis-diagnosed for 3 months by 2 different GPs, during which time my tongue tumor grew to the point where I lost 75% of it.

Go to see a good dentist and/or an ENT familiar with oral cancer.

And throw the cigs out...NOW, you can do it. I smoked for 40 year and if I can quit, so can you. Stopping now may keep you away from this forum forever more.

I began to have pain in the right side of my mouth in 2009. It wasn't until 2011 that it was finally diagnosed as cancer. Maybe because of a sharp tooth, maybe because of the irritation of the first biopsy, maybe because of genes, maybe because of Coors light and my love of nicotine, sex, coffee, mouthwash, red meat etc, etc, etc...

It was a perfect storm. And one that I hope you never have to go through. Let us know how everything turns out. No matter what you do or have done - NO ONE deserves to have oral cancer.

All you can do is try to reduce the risks, but many people get this cancer with no risk factors at all. It's a crap shoot, but you can do some things to get the odds in your favor.

BTW, I still love the smell of tobacco - but it's N.O.P.E (Not One Puff Ever) for me. But - if I was diagnosed as terminal, or I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would light up!!!

Nicorette inhalers are my choice now. Damn addictions.

okay... All of the above, but they do sound like nothing. Definitely have it checked out though! by a qualified someone. ENT? Oral surgeon. Hugs! Hope you don't have to join our group.

Hello again everyone. Thank you so much for your replies, advice and reassurance.

I saw my GP yesterday and she had a good look at them and my mouth in general and said there was no sign at all of anything sinister... the lumps look totally normal and she echoed the last doctor I saw by telling me she thought they had just come about from the way my teeth had grown, and recommended that I talk to my dentist about getting a brace. I am seeing my dentist on the 5th of Dec so I am just hoping s/he can confirm this for me... it does make sense that this would be what it is, and I do wonder if I'm worrying over nothing, but I can't help but still be a little concerned, especially because of what's been said about GPs missing the signs How do you go about getting an appointment with an oral surgeon/ENT? I live in the UK so I don't know if it's different here? I just want to make sure all is well.

Also on the road to giving up smoking Seeing a doctor about it a week on Friday and have an NHS quitkit coming in the post, as well as planning to make good use of my e-cigarette Hehe.

Thanks again everyone

The only way IMO to stop smoking is to quit and tell yourself that you will never ever smoke another cig again.

In order to see and ENT you can get a referral from your GP... for an oral surgeon that usually requires a referral from a dentist... Good luck but try to breath. it sounds like you are ok.

I was lucky and never needed any referrals for any specialists. It depends on a persons insurance company if referrals are needed here in the US. Dont know about the UK.