Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | The "rule" goes like this... If you have a sore in your mouth that has not healed itself within 2 or 3 weeks then its time to get it checked by a professional. By that I mean an ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer patients. they should be the most experienced and will have a good suspicion of what is going on after a thorough exam. Only thru a biopsy would they be certain if it is cancerous or not. Dont play around, go get checked out. Its likely to take a few weeks before you know for certain what you are dealing with.
I understand its a stressful time right now but you MUST quit using tobacco and alcohol. Give your mouth a chance to heal without all the known cancer causing additives in tobacco. After a few days you might get lucky and your mouth could heal after its stopped being exposed to all those chemicals. Im a former smoker myself so I know its not easy. Today Im missing half my lower jaw all due to my "habit". If I could go back in time and have been smart enough to quit when I was your age, I probably wouldnt look like this today. Please let this be your wake up call to change your lifestyle.
Good luck!
PS... None of our members would be able to tell what it going by looking at a photo. We are a group of oral cancer patients and caregivers. Even doctors cant make that determination visually. Hope its nothing serious!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive |