| | Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 2 | i am 16 years old and i have done chew tobacco once and I've done snuff a couple times. I have discovered bumps on the back of my tongue and on the sides. Do I have oral cancer? I am really scared and shaky | | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Hi Bumps -
There are a lot of things that can cause those bumps, oral cancer is just one of them. Of course, the only reliable way to identify them is to go see your doctor; your primary care doctor is probably sufficient for the initial visit. If he thinks there is something worth looking at further, he should send you to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT).
If the ENT has cause for concern he will suggest a biopsy of the tissue. Doing a pathology exam of the biopsied tissue is the only reliable way to identify oral cancer.
How long have the bumps been present? If they go away in a week or two I wouldn't bother too much with it, but if they stick around longer, go see the doc.
And while you're at it, stop the tobacco use, in all forms. It just isn't worth it.
take care, let us know what you do and find out from the doc.
Tony
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 2 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2014 Posts: 2 | I've only done chew tobacco like 12 times but I will get it checked out, thanks | | | | | 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 | A good friend of mine was only 17 when diagnosed with oral cancer after using chewing tobacco for only a short time. There are all kinds of known cancer causing additives in all tobacco products like chew, cigarettes, etc. PLEASE quit and dont use them ever again! You do not want to go thru what an oral cancer patient endures. If the bumps havent resolved themselves within about 2 weeks after quitting then you need to get yourself checked by an ENT.
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  | | |
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