So I went to the dentist the other day for a check up and to start a treatment plan since I hadn't been in a while. During the exam the dentist found a white spot on my gums and proceeded to ask me a bunch of questions about it, I never noticed it before. After many questions and more poking and probing we realized that area plus a couple more on my gums and two spots on my lower lip are numb. Again something I never realized before. She said she was very concerned and wants me to see an Oral Specialist. She said she wants to research who to send me to because she wants it to be someone she know and trusts. So here I sit waiting for an appointment trying to remain neutral but also not wanting to go into this blind.

(I was a smoker for many years but quit 9 years ago)

Hi Patty -
First off, calm down, you don't know anything right now except that you've found a couple of spots and they are numb. That doesn't mean you have cancer.

An oral specialist (not quite sure what your dentist means by that) may or may not be who you need to see. It probably won't hurt to see what oral specialist has to say, but if you have any doubt after that visit, then get to an ENT (ear,nose,throat) specialist who specifically has experience and knowledge in oral cancer. There are a lot of ENT's who don't have the oral cancer training, they won't be much (if any) help to you. If you call an ENT, ask specifically what their experience with OC is.

Like I said before, you don't know you have cancer, so be patient and wait for the doctor's results. If they suggest a biopsy of the tissue then you can start wondering about cancer, but not before. Biopsy and pathology study is how we identify cancer.

It's way too early in the scheme of things to start worrying about cancer. There are many other (non-cancer) possibilities.

Let us know what comes from the next appointment.

Tony

I'm going to agree with tony. Unless these areas are clustered together I wouldn't be too concerned about cancer... Though anything goes... Often with cancer there is a primary, then if it spreads its usually to nodes, or just gets larger. It could be lichen planus, - I might ask for a referral to an ENT through your family dr. As well. This will get the ball Rolling in case it turns out to be something insidious - whoever you see first can probably give you some answers. If not you can go for the follow up with the second dr. Best of luck

Thanks for the feedback. The spot isn't raised or swollen, just white and the area does feel different than the rest of my gums. At least to the dentist, I can't tell a difference. I do have an appointment with my family Dr. on Monday for a recheck of my ears, have been having problems with them for a month so may ask for a referral to an ENT as you suggested. Couldn't hurt.

An ENT who treats alot of oral cancer patients would be the best place to get thoroughly checked out. The ENT can check your ears as well. Many dentists are unfamiliar with oral cancer, same goes with family doctors. I suggest skipping both and heading straight to the ENT. Honestly it could be anything. But please understand often OC does not have many symptoms and lesions can be painless. Ive seen far too many pass thru here with similar symptoms, sometimes its cancer sometimes its nothing serious. To even the trained eye, they will not be able to determine if a lesion is cancerous just by looking. A biopsy needs to be done to find out exactly what it is.

Best wishes!