Im very sorry you are going thru a scare and have come to our site. Hopefully what you have wont be anything serious and it will clear up quickly.

Since our site is made up of regular people from all walks of life, not medical professionals seeing pictures does not help us to determine what you have going on. Only someone who is a medical professional after spending years in medical school, seeing hundreds of clinical patients, reviewed your full medical history and has you (the patient) in front of them to examine and ask questions are certified to make a medical diagnosis. You should see first your family doc and if they cant help an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist). You mentioned being young, wouldnt your parents be able to help you get to the doc? Have you discussed this with them? What about if you are in school a nursing clinic there or something in your area for those patients who are un/underinsured? Im concerned if you arent able to afford a doctor visit, you may not be able to get medications needed to help you heal from whatever you have going on. Are there any free clinics?

Any sore, lump, bump, open sore any patient has inside their mouth/throat that does not heal on its own within 2-3 weeks should be checked by a professional. What you have going on could be any number of things besides cancer. With the weather being cold here, theres always all kinds of bugs going around including the flu, colds, etc. There could be free oral cancer screenings going on in your area? Main OCF site, Free oral cancer screenings

Since you are a smoker this makes healing even harder. Theres hundreds of chemicals that are irritants and many scientifically proven cancer causing additives in tobacco that bother your already sore throat. QUIT!!! By quitting you will give your body a chance to heal on its own. You could have already been well but the irritants in tobacco and its smoke could be why your mouth/throat has not gotten better. Plus all that money saved from could help pay for your doctor visit. As a former smoker, I know quitting is not easy but the longer you wait the harder it will become. You do NOT want to go thru oral cancer or many of the other serious medical issues caused by smoking. Being young, you have your entire life ahead of you... PLEASE make the decision to quit smoking and live a long, happy, and healthy life. Most young people never even consider the consequences of smoking... I didnt either but now looking back I wish I had been better informed and made different decisions. Im missing half of my lower jaw, my teeth and can barely eat anything without choking.... please help yourself to avoid this as your future!!! You may want to also look into the Guardisil shot to protect you from HPV which can also cause oral cancer.

Heres a few other pointers.... I also want to clear up one myth you mentioned.....Unfortunately oral cancer does not have any age limits. Ive known plenty of 20 somethings who went thru absolute hell only to pass away many, many years too soon from oral cancer and its complications. Another tip is to avoid googling symptoms as much as possible, it wont help. Put in enough details and even as 100 year old man can appear as being pregnant. LOL! But seriously, Dr Google wont help to diagnose you or anyone else over the internet, you need to see a doctor in person.

Best wishes!!!


Christine
SCC 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 smile