Hi Trese! Please relax. I know you are upset and afraid that you have cancer. When that scary thought creeps into your mind, then the "what if's" can be pretty hard to shake. I am sorry you have lost your parents to cancer! It must have been a very difficult time for you. That is also what makes this even scarier for you. At this time, it has not been proven that oral cancer is hereditary.

To me it sounds like you have thrush. Plain yogurt will help with thrush. I would give it a try. Another idea is to go see your family doctor for a good physical. Maybe they could refer you to another ENT, dentist or even an oral surgeon. To me it sounds like you have some sort of infection causing the enlarged lymph node. I agree with Kelly, that a needle biopsy can be done with the lymph node. If you havent been on antibiotics, then that might be something that would clear up the white tongue. You are right, a white tongue is not normal but it can happen. Keep up the good work with not smoking! Thats a hard habit to break. You do not need those irritants making this even worse for you.

I have also sent you a PM (private message). Small world, we live in the same area!

Please do your best to calm down and relax. It isnt helping you at all to be upset about this. I know how silly it sounds to stay calm when you are afraid you have cancer. I have been where you are but unfortunately, I did have cancer. I sincerely hope you do not!!! Of course we are not doctors here and its over the internet where nobody could diagnose you. We are however, very experienced with oral cancer. We learned thru going thru it as patients and caregivers.

Best wishes with getting to the bottom of this!