Dear Reneelynn,

As you can see from my signature line, my husband and I lost our favorite Aunt to this hideous cancer just a few months ago. My Aunt was one of the best friends I ever had in my life and because of that, I was her cancer buddy from day one. I read, learned, joined this Board and understood everything a non-medical human being could possibly understand about oral cancer in order to help and be of support to my Aunt and Uncle (who refused to buy a computer or ask too many questions). I was there when she went through everything. As a result of our Aunt being so ill, my husband and I began brushing and examining our tongues on a daily basis. Our dentist is also my very good friend's husband, so I felt covered by our checking and his checking. Despite all that checking, it wasn't until we were both horribly sick with the flu and bronchitis that I noticed that I had a half dozen red dots on the very back of my tongue and to make that worse, something in my mouth was bleeding when I brushed my tongue. I can't tell you where the blood was coming from. To make a long story short, I checked those red bumps for a few days and they remained. They even remained when I was nearly recovered from that flu. One day in particular, I got myself really so scared that I wasn't able to accomplish anything that day. I picked up the phone and called my ENT right that minute and made an appointment for later on that same afternoon. Called my PCP and got a rush referral. (Yes, I have insurance and I'm awfully sorry that you don't but there ARE ways around that). My ENT is also a head and neck surgeon (who knew?) with a fine reputation who is attached to a couple of fine hospitals. He gave me a very good once over, examined every nook and cranny of my mouth and told me I had a geographic tongue with prominent papillae (is that right Dr. Jerry?), right between what I always call the "dinosaur footprints" that we all have on the back of our tongues and are normal. In any case, what I am trying to say is that I couldn't even make it through THAT DAY when the fear took me over. How are you doing it for so long?? It's BETTER to be checked out and KNOW what's going on inside your mouth, than not know.

In the very very least, and I DO NOT mean to compromise any of the very good advice that's been given by these fine people thus far, go to an emergency room and get checked out!! Hospitals HAVE to see everyone whether they have insurance or not. Even if you have to say that you're there because you have a funny sensation in your tongue that won't go away, or you have pain in your tongue- anything to be seen. Make something up. Just be seen! Now of course, the optimum and what you should have done a long time ago is see a very highly recommended ENT. But if your mind is really in a twist over money, be seen by ANY medical doctor.

It's two years later and I still have those red bumps in the center of the back of my tongue. They never went away, they sometimes get smaller, never got bigger but I know what they are. STILL, at every opportunity I have, I have a doctor look into my mouth and down my throat. Why not be SURE??

See someone today or tomorrow. Take that leap of faith as Brian said. Put yourself in God's capable hands and get yourself to any doctor or emergency room.

I'm worth it. I got into the car that day and went, shaking while I was driving the whole way. Aren't you worth it?? GO!

Hugs,
Lisa