Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Viv12 Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Hi all,

I thought I had canker sore or sores on the back of my tongue as every swallow for 8 days today KILLS me with pain. I went to the dentist and he said I have NO canker sores. (maybe there is one further back that he cannot see?!) So I went to my family doctor and he just chalked it up to a virus. He did a throat culture and it was negative.

I just never had pain like this on one side before. It feels like strep throat but my throat is healthy pink looking. My tongue even looks fine but when I eat or drink or yawn or swallow my own saliva oh my does it HURT. Maybe I caught an odd virus or something, I don't know. I am scared thinking it is lingual tonsil cancer or tongue cancer.

Has anyone else had anything like this? Does this mean I need to prepare myself for tongue cancer from my symptoms: severe tongue pain when swallowing (even saliva) on one side only for 8 days today. It feels like an odd infection or something. No fever and no swollen glands.

Thank you,
Viv

P.S. I am seeing my ENT tomorrow.

Last edited by Viv12; 11-20-2014 06:39 AM.
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 2
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 2
Viv12, sorry for your anxiety. 8 days is a little soon to worry but keep on top of it. Maybe try gargling with salt water 2-3 times a day. Give it a couple weeks and go to the doctor.


SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Hopefully your ENT will be able to figure out whats wrong. It could be any number of things besides OC.

Any time anyone has a sore inside their mouth for 2 or 3 weeks and it does not heal by itself, it needs to be checked by a professional. An ENT is usually the best choice for this type of thing.

Hopefully its nothing serious! Best wishes!


Christine
SCC 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 smile
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 559
Likes: 1
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 559
Likes: 1
Hi Viv - I know where you're coming from about this infection/sore. I had a similar occurence more than once when I was in treatment; an infection of some sort (mine was in left rear corner of mouth near my molars). We did a culture test on the green crud that was visible but nothing grew, ie it was viral, not bacterial (or so they told me).

ON the first time I had this they actually prescribed an antibiotic, but of course it didn't help (because it's viral). On the second bout they declined anti-biotic prescription and said your body will just have to clear it naturally (which it did, in about 2 weeks). That was a year ago, I haven't had any recurrences since.

I did have SCC of the left tonsil. I don't think the infection came from the cancer, I think it came from the weakened immune system in my mouth/body. Does having a similar infection/sore in your mouth mean you have cancer, probably not, but you do need to get it checked by an ENT specializing in oral cancer.

Let us know the results of your ENT visit.

take care, 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

#187694 01-17-2015 08:55 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Viv12 Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Hi there,


On both inside cheeks I have a few white patches and red bumps. They have been there a while � for months actually. I assumed they were from biting my cheeks. I grind my teeth in my sleep and wear a night guard and I got a new night guard last summer so I assumed they were from that. I was able to bite my cheeks even with the guard on.

Well recently I noticed a white patch on the left side of my tongue, towards the front but on the side of my tongue. There is a small taste bud next to this patch that is inflamed and red. And it hurts. On my right side of my tongue there is a small white patch too but that one is further back. That one does not hurt.

I went to my regular dentist. He told me to rinse with salt water and see my periodontist if it didn't clear in two weeks. A week later I saw my periodontist. He measure d areas and gave me a steroid rinse. I went back yesterday after a week and no change. No bigger, no smaller. He said we will give it two more weeks and then biopsy an area on my cheek and on my tongue.

I have an appointment with my ENT tomorrow. I will see what he says.

I am TERRIFIED this is oral cancer.

Has anyone had anything similar? If so can you share your story?

Thank you. smile

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Viv12 Offline OP
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 8
Thank you everyone! This turned out fine - ENT said it was probably a viral infection. It cleared. But now I am a mess with white sores and I just posted a new topic. frown

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
I have merged your posts.

Are the white sores the same ones as you originally asked about? An ENT who specializes in oral cancer patients should be the best person to diagnose you. There are all kinds of things the sores could be besides cancer. If the sores have been there for longer than 2 - 3 weeks then its time to get checked out.

A biopsy may be necessary to identify what's going on.

Hopefully its nothing serious! Good luck!!!



Christine
SCC 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 smile

Moderated by  Brian Hill 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5