Hi (again).
I came across this site while doing preliminary research about oral cancer on the net.
This looks to be the best forum for OC I've ever seen.

About 5 or 6 days ago I felt a small lesion on my upper pallet towards the back.
It's about 3/8" long and 3/16" wide. It appears to be reddish with some white spots on it. It's not necessarily hard or bony...kinda inbetween.

I am seeing my detist tomorrow and will probably insist on a biopsy from an ENT or whatever. I fall into the higher risk area of smoker and drinker.
Age:53.

I suppose he'll want to do a brush test, but I assume I'll not want to wait another 10 days to see if it goes away (if test is negative).

I've already accumulated so much information from reading the posts and general information area.
Depending on the outcome of a biopsy, I won't necessarily have to have my pallete cut into.
Small pinpoint doses of radiation may be suggested. I wonder, if that is the case, has anyone ever insisted that it be cut out?

Anyways...first things first. See dentist tomorrow.

Nice to have a place like this!

Hi Jeff,
and welcome to the forum. Why a dentist? Why not go to an ENT or head & neck surgeon and get a proper diagnosis. You already know you are at a higher risk because of your lifestyle choices and you are in the perfect age group for this disease to appear. Not to scare you but GET the Dx! It may be nothing and there are other things it could be besides cancer. Without a definitive biopsy how will you really know and you must ask what is the accuracy of the brush biopsy test. Pathology reports from a punch or snip type of biopsy are the gold standard. It's too soon to start speculating on your treatment options. It's been often said here: "It ain't cancer until the pathology report says it is".

More information on brush biopsy see: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/diagnosis/detailed_brush_cytology.htm

Thanks for the welcome.
I figured my Dentist could see me right away and start from there, maybe recommend an ENT.
I fully intend to see an ENT...and damn soon, maybe tomorrow if I'm lucky.
I've never made an appointment with an ENT. I hope it's not like..."we can see you in 5 days..."
I'd prefer a biopsy be done within a day or so.
Does that happen?

Jeff.....do it now. My dentist did not recognize my lesion.....on my gums, which spread to my palate....not to scare you, but it was red and flat, with some white spots. It changed a bit from day to day, but it did not get better. The part on my gums was sore, but the rest of it was not, so that is not a test. I don't want to scare you, but I do want to urge you to get an excisional biopsy, not just the brush test. If the brush test is negative, will you trust it? Anybody you see will do the biopsy while you are there, and will send it off immediately. It will take a few days for the report perhaps..perhaps not. Mine was sent away, and I still had the report in five days, including a weekend. In San Diego, you should have it faster. The ENT can do the biopsy, but the dentist should not.

Why not CALL the dentist for the referral to the ENT? that would save a step. The dentist would possibly have an opinion, but it is out of his area of expertise....or at least it was out of MY dentist's area of expertise, and it cost me dearly, in a number of ways.

Don't wait. Please. If it is nothing, please let us know so we can celebrate with you. And if it is something worrisome, let us know that too, so we can worry with you.

...sorry if I sound pushy....but I feel very strongly about this, since your description sounds like mine. Maybe it is an injury from eating scratchy food. How long has it been there? That is important to know. If it has been there as long as two weeks without noticeable improvement, it is most likely pretty important that you get attention very soon.

..one more thing from your pushy new friend: If you just noticed this 5-6 days ago, and it has not improved in that time, it most likely has been there for considerably longer than that. You only noticed it when it was large enough for you to feel.

Go.

The biopsy is not 100%. I know of many, me included, that had neg biopsy and it turned out to be SCC. Just be careful.

Rob J

All good advice. I went into UCSD medical center this morning (tue). The ENT looked at it and thinks it might be just a pyogenic granuloma. He snipped it out and I am awaiting the results of the biopsy.
I researched what that is and understand that some SCC's can be mistaken for pyogenic granuloma.

I am somewhat heartened that this "nodule" appeared very quickly (almost overnight it seems)...and that it was rather smooth, and was on the roof of my mouth, a place that is uncommon for SCC to appear.
I didn't know the growth rate of Oral SCC and was concerned. I also can't remember really damaging the area with food.

Actually, the thorough way to really make sure to remove it all is not to snip it off as he did, but to cut it out and stitch it back up (researched).

I still have to wait untill Friday for the results. I am hoping for the best (statistically)and if it's benign...will consider having the area cut out more and stitched up.

Also...it's not beyond the possiblity of a tumor up in that tiny (mucus membrane?) area.

Anyways...here's hoping.

I am hoping that the biopsy confirms the prediction that it is benign. I would be very, very pleased for you. You have learned quite a bit in the past few days. I'll have to get you to research a few things for ME!

Jeff

Just know that we are here waiting rigth along with you ! And I can say I think most of us have become pretty good at research, my RO just asked me if I had a medical background or If I was a science freak , I replied i almost Failed every science class I ever took , and i was a medical receptionist for planned parenthood so if you consider scheduling pap smear a medical back ground then ...... He said well I am impressed you know so much and have such an understanding of this ,,,I replied " I have to this is my LIFE " a thought I think we all have !

Jeff,

Just for your added information my husband saw two dentists and an ENT. His first appointment was on 08/30/06. All three of them did not think his lesion looked like cancer, but like a traumatic injury, a burn or he bit his tongue. Fortunately and since he was a smoker, they all at least passed him on to the next person and the ENT did a biopsy on 9/11. The ENT came out of it afterwards and still said it did not look like cancer, did not come out like cancer and he felt good about it. The next day 9/12/06 he called and said it was cancer. So unfortunately, they really can