Hi everyone,

Yesterday I went to a dentist thinking that I would be referred to a periodontal specialest. I have 3 large growths on my gums that I thought was periodontal disease. I go in next week for a biopsy.

I am not sure if I should be worried but I am. I did smoke for 26 years. I quit 5 years ago. I do hope for the best next week but I want to learn as much as I can to. I want to know of what I may be up against.

Lisa, welcome to OCF! The growths could be any number of things besides cancer.

How long have the growths been there? Do they change or come and go at all?

Ive included a link at the bottom of this post that will give you tons of reading material. Without a cancer diagnosis yet, I think its best if you read thru every tab on the link to educate yourself about what the growths could be. Especially geared towards where you are right now is the Diagnosis section. Here in the online message boards you will find many posts that can be frightening to someone that is just starting out and not diagnosed yet. Also do your best to avoid Dr Google too. If it would turn out to be cancer, then you are in the right place for info and support.

Hopefully the biopsy will bring a noncancerous diagnosis. Best wishes!

OCF Main Site --- Understanding OC

Christine,

Thank you for your welcome and for the link. I will go through it and read as much as I can.

I am trying very hard to keep myself from thinking to hard on this. I think the way they reacted to the growths yesterday at the dentist was scary in itself. The one doctor had a couple others come in. And they all said we need to get her into see a pathologist asap.

The growths have been there for about 8 months now. One I thought was a large piece of my gum that had become loose and moves freely. There is another that has just started a couple months ago but has grown quickly and my tooth is starting teeth are starting to turn because of it. No they don't go away at all.

Thank you again. And I will start reading

Lisa, you're welcome! Thats what we are here for. Try not to think too much into the dentists reactions. Even specialists who see oral cancer can not distinguish what is cancer and what isnt just by looking without a biopsy. Im guessing that it is something abnormal that they dont run into often so they sent you for a biopsy which is the right thing to do. Too often professionals will take a more relaxed "watch and see" attitude first trying to treat with antibiotics. Then weeks later they will turn to the biopsy if nothing changes after antibiotics. Im glad you have a proactive dentist who would rather check you thoroughly to determine what it is right away. Hopefully it is not cancer and can be easily treated. One factor in your favor is tumors are usually only one that grows not 3.

We're here to help you. Keep us posted on how things progress. Good luck!!!