Well, after going to my routine dental cleaning, life just got really difficult. While cleaning my teeth, my dentist discovered a small white spot on my retromolar region. I've had my wisdom teeth removed and a tonsillectomy in 2008. She mentioned that we should do a brush biopsy in a week if it hasn't gone away. The spot is very small but I had already noticed it in my mouth before she mentioned it. It was the way she was acting about it that totally freaked me out. So of course, I go home and can think of nothing else. I log on and start the downward spiral. I read about potential precancerous/cancerous lesions and color changes. I hear words like oral plague that can turn cancerous etc etc. By this time I'm totally freaking out. I read about HPV related oral cancers and I really get freaked out. I'm 31 now but 9 years ago I had some high risk cervical dysplasia removed from my cervix...HPV related. By this time I'm over the top. for the rest of the week I'm beside myself with worry. The white spot is still there and I've also noticed that the tonsillar pillars, tonsils were removed, had a white film over them. The white stain doesn't rub off. The texture isn't changed but there was definitely a dicoloration. So I manage to convince myself that I would wait until Tuesday, appt with ENT, to start getting panicked. Well, I got up this morning and started reading again on the internet. I read that the tongue was usually affected with HPV related cancers. My tongue is really short so I stuck out my tongue and didn't see anything. Well that wasn't good enough for me. Since I couldn't see anything, I started feeling for "stuff." I couldn't believe what I actually found on the far back side of my tongue. It was a small red colored nodule. It was kind of fleshy and I could wiggle it. Next to the nodule, I found what resembled a very small looking tongue "tag" or "flap." So of course I started freaking out. I literally almost passed out. The next thing I discovered seriously almost did me in. I stuck my tongue way out and looked on top it. There was a growth on the left side or tongue and another on the right side. They were very obvious and very out of place. I can't really decide if they look like papillomas. I'm sure they are. This all happened today and I haven't eaten anything or moved all day. I'm a single mother of a 6 year old and can't even bear the thought of oral cancer after reading here today. The prognosis and survival all seem so bleak. I don't have a family support system and moved a couple of years ago to a city where I really don't know many people. I also have an occupation that requires me to talk incessantly all day long. I've typed this long diatribe to convey how truly scared I am of not being around to raise my little guy. He does have an amazing dad, but unfortunately dad has a high profile coaching job that forces him to travel. Dad also lives in another state. I'm beyond scared and also freaking out about my pap test that's coming up in July. I've convinced myself it's cancer that has already spread. I mean, I've read extensively on this forum and have yet to see someone mention having 3 different nodules or tumors all in the same area. Two of the growths are on each side of my tongue and on the very back no less. I'm seeing total glossectomy in my future with slim chances. Funny thing is, not being promiscuous doesn't stop this from happening. Sometimes you think you're in a momogamous relationship, but the other partner didn't get the memo.....

Sherrone, welcome to OCF. First...CALM DOWN!!!!! The only way to tell if you have cancer is thru a biopsy. Our saying here is..."Its not cancer til they say it is". When we are scared our mind will play tricks on us and the 'what if's' start to make us worry even more.

While you may see 3 distinct 'nodules', it could be several different things going on. I had 2 completely seperate areas of Stage 1 SCC oral cancer when diagnosed.

We do have a dentist that frequents this forum, Im sure he will give you some info. It is not possible to diagnose someone over the internet, but he can still be very helpful.

Having oral cancer is not the end of the world, that is IF you have it. Ive gone thru this 3x's in 3 years and Im still here to tell about it. Many, many people who have had cancer lead happy, healthy, productive lives. Worrying is a natural reaction of fear from the unknown, but it will not change things. Be logical and dont let your mind run wild with thoughts of dispair. If you have oral cancer, you are young and it sounds like it was found early so you would have an easier time of it than someone say in their 70s who is in poor health. As far as the cause of having cancer, that isnt of importance. The treatment would be the same regardless of if it was caused by HPV or not.

Best of luck with your test and its results.

Sherrone,

Yes please calm down. Heck I was anxious just after reading your post! Try and get an appt with an ENT asap and lets see what they say.

Hi Sherrone, my mind went just as wild as yours when my husband was getting evaluated.And my thoughts were also on our kids, so I can imagine as a single mom how scary this stuff gets.

But it is worth trying to calm down(very hard to do,I know) gather info and weed through what may or may not be relevant to you.

What I've noticed here is that even though everyone shares similiarities every case here is really different.

Remember there's a lot of support here available to you. Keep us posted.

Sherrone,

Sorry I have not read your post until today. I have been off the board working to get my house ready to be sold.

In any case, you have received some very good advice so far. The areas that you have discovered (other than the white area) are PROBABLY normal anatomical structures on the tongue, known as circumvalate papilaes. Unless you pull the tongue out very far, these are not normally visible and everyone has them.

I hope by now you have seen an ENT or an oral surgeon and if not, that you have an appointment scheduled soon. As stated above, only a biopsy can determine if in fact that you have cancer.

Please get the biopsy done and let us know how you make out.