Things seem to be moving quickly and I need an experienced sounding board.
Here goes... I used dip/snuff-smokeless tobacco for 28years. I quit cold turkey 8 years ago. It was after holding my newborn daughter late one night and thinking why?
Fastforward:
The last 2 months my lymph node (left lower jaw) swelled from nothing to 1.5cm. There is no pain per say, more an ache. I can feel that there is a difference in my neck and can find it easily.
I went to my Primary and she physically palpitated and agreed.
She also found a small (pink and white lesion growth) right next to left tonsil. She wrote me a referral to an Oral Surgeon and ordered blood work.
Blood work came back normal(within ranges).
Got in to Oral Surgeon he took a good look and said that he wasnt alarmed. He felt it was posibbly due to an injury....?
He said if I elected to have it removed he would biopsy the tissue. As he wasn't alarmed my fears eased considerably, he couldnt do it right then and there (might require 1-2 stitches) so "I could decide", he again stated he wasn't overly concerned.
Middle of this week another followup with my primary. She asked what Oral Surgeon said. She took a another look, checked nodes(same) and said get it(growth) removed and biopsied.
Got home called Oral Surgeon and they put me in for this next Monday. Much quicker then getting in initially.
Things seem to be happening very quickly, my question is should I be seeing an ENT or is Oral Surgeon the one to see.
My grandfather died at age 40 with lymphoma of throat(non-smoker, no alcohol). No experience with these symptoms, tests or specialists.
Thank you.