I agree with all of the above posters - I was mentioning this "thing" in my throat for a year and he never once suggested seeing a specialist. It got to be 6cm. It practically could jump right out of my throat and was readily visible. He is a great dentist and old friend. I asked him how many patients he has seen with oral cancer in his entire practice and he said "about three" (and his practice is huge). I also went to my family doctor several times and he didn't get it either. I have been seeing this dentist for over 30 years. The hygenists routinely do a cancer screening and they missed it. They might have missed it anyway until it got really large - the tonsil hides behind the side of the tongue and nowhere near the area of concern of the average dentist or hygenist.

This is one of lifes little speed bumps - after all he didn't give me the cancer. They have certainly become more careful in their screening since then however. Maybe a life will be saved.

In the scheme of things oral cancer is fairly rare compared to other types. A few here have even had problems finding an ENT to Dx it correctly.