Hi,

I was just looking round the web for info while I'm waiting for my cell culture results. Obviously I'm nervous to get bad news, I have two very little ones and no family or support other than my DH...but I'm trying not to freak out yet! Unsuccessfully.

I have had a red smooth patch on the side of my tongue for now three weeks, was treated for Candida but didn't go away, so they sent me to ENT...he said probably not cancer, but could be precancerous and scraped a cell sample off. Didn't give me any alternatives at all to what else it might be but scoffed at my hopeful geographic tongue suggestion.

I know there are so many people here that have to deal with really terrible things, but wimpy little me: even precancerous freaks me out. He said if yes he would cut and stitch and, you know, my God. On my tongue?? I don't want cancer anything, pre or not!

So I'm trying to be in denial... I have had harmless tongue trouble for while now, geographic tongue, short-term red patches that looked and felt the same as this one aka red smooth and slightly burny (Candida, the doc said and treated successfully, now not so sure it really was Candida, ENT said there was no reason why I should get that), even the black hairy tongue thing...but it always went away quickly.

I'm 39, smoked very lightly for about 5 years, but quit about 10 years ago...otherwise healthy, no alcohol besides an eventual glass of wine, but none for the last month eg. I'm watching my diet, too, trying to be healthy with greens and fruits. Had the dentist do the cancer screen like 6 month ago, was fine...

Oh, and the ENT gave me an oral steroid, and after two days the red patch is gone, but the burny feeling is still there. I'm not sure where he wants to cut now, I can't even tell where it was. Would it still be red if precancerous? Or would the color go away with steroids? Could the burn be still from the scraping 1.5 days ago?

It's all going to be all right, yes? (just please say yes, the results will come in early enough.)

Aaaargh!

Thanks!