Welcome to OCF, Caroline! I hope all your symptoms turn out to be nothing serious. Please stop searching the internet and getting yourself upset, it will not help you at all. You have discovered the most comprehensive place for all info about oral cancer and it is most importantly correct info. Just because you read things online does NOT make them true so please help yourself by not continuing to do online searches.

Unfortunately, yes your symptoms could be oral cancer. COULD is the word! Dont get upset, learn and empower yourself!

Too often dentists do not recognize oral cancer. This is a very sad but true statement. This will cause oral cancer patients to go undiagnosed for longer than they should. This makes it harder to treat, but not impossible to treat. Many Stage IV survivors successfully conquer oral cancer and its treatments. Im one of them!

I would suggest you seek out an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist. Look for someone who treats oral cancer patients. Show them the lesion and give all your symptoms. They will need to do a biopsy to know what your sore is. Honestly, sometimes dentures can cause mouth sores which are very hard to heal since it continually rubs on the denture. I would suggest rinsing several times per day with a mixture of 16 oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt. Sorry I do not know the UK equivalent to US measurements. This will help to neutralize your mouth and promote healing.

Best wishes!!!