Hello all
I see a ENT specialist next week...Aprox 12 months ago a dentist found "suspicious looking" red color in my mouth. He made a small cut and sent a sample to a pathologist. I was told by the doc that the report said whatever they found was unidentifiable but suspicious and should be followed. I was to go back in 3 months after I had quit smoking. Husband lost his job and insurance was gone, I did nothing. I didnt even quit smoking till three months ago.

I never noticed this area, it was smooth and the redness was barely noticeable. Now we have insurance and are in another state. I can feel the uneven part now and see the red color along with raised white bumps.

Does anyone have this happening to them? It is on the soft pallet towards the back. I am sure I am jumping the gun here and should wait to post till I see the doc...but...

cindy

No one on the web, doctor or otherwise, can diagnose what you have and you need to go see a qualified oral surgeon or ENT as soon as possible to have them find out what this is. Anything which has not resolved or healed in two weeks is suspect. I do not wish to alarm you, but the most common manifestation of oral cancers is in smokers, and appears as a red (erythroplakia) or white color (leukoplakia) change in the tissues, some times red and white mixed together. As a smoker this is not something that you should delay in having checked out. They can do a simple, inexpensive, painless biopsy and let you know in less than a week what's what. If reading all the information in this site and the stories on this message board hasn

Thanks for your reply Brian
I am going to see an ENT next week..I already have the appiontment..As for the smoking I have been smoke free for three months...

I appologise if my post was unclear, I surely didnt expect anyone here to offer a diagnosis..

I am searching for info and pictures, I guess trying to fill the time, as I am worried...

I will wait to post again untill I see my doctor...

Thanks again

cindy

Perhaps you took my post too strongly. I only said the part about diagnosis because in spite of wanting to help, I don't wish to get sued for offering medical advice, as I am not a doctor. (It happens, no good deed goes unpunished they say.) Post as often as you need to here to talk about your worries. Emotional support is as important as physical, and informational support. This is a caring group. I apologize if I came off in a negative way to you, these are my last posts for a couple of weeks and I'm rushing through them.

Thank you Brian, I have sent a PM..I appreciate your replys...

cindy

Hi Cindy,

My mother's cancer first showed itself as a lesion on her soft palate also (approx. 4cm x 4cm). I would say she let it grow for about 9 months before having it checked out. Unfortunately, biopsy showed squamous cell carcinoma. Further investigation leads doctors to believe cancer started in the tonsil and worked up to the palate. She also has spread to her cervical lymph nodes.

I say this not to scare you - just to answer your question. We are in our 4th month of the diagnosis and I know how eager you are to get information. But you will learn the waiting game -it goes with the territory. You have taken the first and best step in seeing the ENT. Hopefully, IF it is malignant, it will be caught early enough for complete cure.

Let us know what the doctor says and fire any questions at us you may have.

Cynthia

Hi Cynthia, I am sorry to hear of your Mom's ordeal...shes a lucky woman to have you in her corner...

Since making my appointment and speaking to my doctor about the last biopsy I have scoured my mouth...there are several things "in there" that worry me, the red patch, a sore on left side of tounge that I hadnt noticed....arrgh...wouldnt the first biopsy have shown a carcinoma right off?

waiting game..I am sooo bad at that.. :rolleyes:

I know I dont have a dx as of yet and am hopeful they will find nothing, but from waht I have read there is nothing else to explain the patch...

Thanks for replying to me...

cindy

Cindy, I certainly understand your anxiety at this time. I have just been there recently. Mine was white patches, and my dentist told me it was cancer on visual inspection. After second and third opinions and a biopsy, it turned out to be callous from chewing where I have no teeth. It sure didn't look like callous to me, but I'm here to say that you can still get good news. Congrats on quitting smoking, that's a big hurdle! Take this a day at a time and lean on the very special folks here. I did and I still come back to visit them even though I got a clear diagnosis.

Blessings,

RitaZ.

The waiting game is indeed the hardest, most anxiety provoking period. Rest assured that information and the support of others will carry you through this time and whatever may or may not come afterward. Keep us posted on the progress and you aren't alone!

Kim

Greetings all

Well, the ENT spent maybe 20 seconds looking in my mouth, said he didnt see a thing and had no clue what the dentist was talking about...Good news then...cost me a bundle but worth it...

Thanks to everyone who replied to me, I surely appreciate it....

Take care here

cindy