Welcome Cynthia,

You are doing right by having anything suspicious that has not gone away in several weeks to see a doctor about. It could be anything, leukoplakia, which white plaque with 4% chance of progressiing to cancer, erythroplakia, red velvety, is more of a chance transforming to cancer, if it is, than a biopsy is needed, or could be enlarged papillae, or a bacterial, fungal or viral infevtion, and hundreds of other medical conditiond that can cause these signs and symtoms. If you smoke, you should stop, and that usually causes some conditions to correct itself, and reduces your risk of cancer. The same with any self prescribed vitamins or herbs.

By age 25, 90% of the population has been exposed to an HPV. There are over 150 different types, most are not high risk, and about 14 high risk ones, mainly HPV-16, which may cause oropharyngeal cancer, mainly tonsil, and BOT in 1% of the population. If you are 26 or under from age 9, you can get the HPV vaccine that covers HPV-6, 11, 16, 18.

As T advised, see a clinic or community hospitals that serve the uninsured or underinsured. Most hospitals work out paying arrangements too. Check U.S. News a report best hospitals 2013, for Cancrt and ENT, ear nose throat. There are many in South Florida. Call them, and see what type of patient programs are offered.

Who told you your need all these procedures? It's best not to self diagnosis even with Dr. Google. Let the real doctor do that. You can read up on oral/oropharyngeal cancer at the opening page, which has information on just about everything involving this disease.

Good luck with everything.