Welcome to OCF! Our site is made up of oral cancer (OC) patients/survivors and caregivers. Unfortunately our members do not have years of medical training or a medical background to be able to answer your questions. We know about OC and everything that goes with that kind of diagnosis.

Around here we dont get many new members with a benign low grade carcinoma diagnosis. Receiving a benign diagnosis is something to celebrate!!! This is coming from someone who has had OC 3 times with a very low chance of survival. I see you as someone who is so very fortunate!!! However, I do understand your fears and why you are worried. Most of us get nervous and worry about an unknown future of having any kind of illness. Take deep breath then step back and view the whole picture.... you do NOT have cancer which is a very, VERY good thing

Even though its not cancer, I still would recommend getting a second opinion. If you are in the NY area, Im certain you can easily find several ENTs who specialize in treating OC patients. You will want an experienced surgeon so they are skilled in getting clean margins. Prior to any surgeries, you should have a very long talk with your doc to review everything you mentioned in your above post. You may also want to seek out a therapist to help you work thru your fears. Anxiety meds could be something that would help you to relax but I dont know if thats an option with breastfeeding. Discussing everything with your doc should help to ease your mind.

For OC patients there is a small percentage of those who do not smoke or drink and are HPV- and have no other risk factors to have developed OC. Its 5-7% of OC patients have no known cause. I do not know if having a diagnosis of a benign low grade carcinoma fits into this category as it is not OC like what most here have (SCC-- squamous cell carcinoma). Thats another one to ask your doc about.

Best wishes with everything!!!