Hi Tiffini,
I am truly sorry to see you back here. We were all hoping for a different solution to your problem. When I was diagnosed, I was aware that something was going in my throat for months before I finally got an accurate diagnosis. My dentist, oral surgeon, hygenist (who examines each time for cancer) and MD all missed it. In all fairness to them, I was convinced (denial can be a deadly thing) that it was an infection (and I think that I convinced them also). Finally the MD told me that I needed a referal to the ENT and was diagnosed with cancer within minutes of arriving in his office (which I further delayed 2 months after the referal). I remember advising you to see an ENT on the very first same day I started treatment. This is not to criticize you or add to your fears but rather to send a message to others so they can learn from OUR experience that these kinds of problems will not go away or improve with time, in fact, they continue to get more deadly and require more extensive medical intervention as time passes - and this can be a relatively short period of time. It very possibly meant the difference between Stage I or II vs. Stage III or IV for me, which was my ending diagnosis. By the way, the ENT who made the intial Dx was pissed off also (about the time lag and missed opportunities for earlier intervention).

You don't want to see an oral surgeon for this. They're just a fancy dentist. The oncologist is correct to refer you to an ENT or head and neck surgeon.

I can't speak to your headaches because I never had that problem. I did have ear pain and headaches post treatment due to clogged up eustachian tubes but that cleared up on its own.

I am grateful that they are finally getting a handle on your diagnosis and can start treatment for this.

I can certainly relate to your fears. All I can say is it got a lot better when they finally had a treatment plan and treatment started. We will be here to walk alongside you as you go through this.