I finally got the nerve to call the doctor yesterday. He said "I was going to call you today"...ok. He gave me the run around mumble jumble like I didn't know anything. Basically he told me that it was not "normal" and it was pre-cancerous. He said that he was still not concerned because I am not a smoker or drinker. But from everything I read, that really doesn't matter. He said he wanted me to schedule a CT scan this week to check for swollen lymph nodes. I've already told him that my lymph node on the same side was swollen. Well I won't be able to get an appointment until the end of October. I'm concerned because I've read so much about cancer spreading quickly. It's been 9 months since I first saw the red patch and it will be almost 3 months from the time I initially went to the dentist until I get the results from the CT scan. All in all, it will take just short of a year!! Should I be more concerned with it all taking so long? This not knowing for sure is driving me insane...I just want to know SOMETHING! Thanks for listening....I really need it.