Hi all. My name is Eric. I'm a 38 year old, ex smoker, married with three beautiful kids ranging from 3 years old to 9 years old. I smoked about 1-1/2 packs a day from age 15 until about 6 months ago. I still chew the Nicotine gum though. Also until recently I drank about 3 beers a day in the evening before we eat. Sometimes a few more on occasion. I first noticed symptoms with my tongue about a year ago. It was limited to tingling maybe a slight burning from time to time. My dentist prescribed Nystatin (sp?) It seemed to get pretty much better but then came back. I mentioned to my Family Doctor and he prescribed more which didn't help and then the Diflucan about 2 months later which seemed to help but didn't get rid of it altogether. Still the tongue burning mostly on the sides and sometimes like a tingling. About 5 weeks ago I came down with the Flu. It was a bad one. Fever, in bed for a few days. My mouth symptoms got really bad for some reason which prompted me to get out a flash light and have a look around my mouth. I found one enlarged tonsil and many ulcers. I went back to my Doctor who looked at my tongue and tonsil and said the tongue is normal because I have the bumps on both sides. He didn't look very close because it only took him a second. They don't look right to me. The one side almost looks like a cluster of bumps. He gave me a prescription for 500 mg Amoxicillin and said if the tonsil isn't better in 10 days to call him. I'm on day 7 and no change. I already have a call in to the Doctor and I'm going to request an ENT referral. I'm really scared. I've been reading here for the past week and I must say, If I do have the big "C" , I pray to God I can fight as valiantly as so many of you have. I read your signatures and see what you've been through as well as the stories and support you give to others and I'm very inspired. Please say a little prayer for me and if any of you have any words of wisdom, please fire away. Thank you and god bless.