Hello everyone,
I am new here and have alot of questions I wouold greatly appreceate some help with. I am 27 years old and a smokeless tobacco user for 12 years. I recently quit cold turkey and was just admiring how well I was doing without nicotine. Last week I discovered a lump my lower jaw. It is not visible, half the size of a pea, semi-hard, and I can move it from side to side about an inch. Does this sound familiar? Also, I had my wisdom teeth removed a month ago, the oral surgeon at least billed me for an exam. If there was a tumor I would like to think he would have found it. If it is a tumor, and it is caught early, is there a chance I would not have to have my lower jaw removed? Anyways I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions. Sherman@nook.net

Hi, Sherman there are lots of lumps that are not serious. The reality is you can't tell without taking a small sample and looking at it under a microscope. Your oral surgeon may have examined you for cancer but you should ask him/her. And last even if it was cancer you would NOT necessarily have your lower jaw removed. So relax a bit but get yourself in for a careful examination. This may turn out to be caused by the tooth extraction. Congratulations on stopping the smokeless habit! Take care and keep in touch.

Sherman,
I would get a referal to a head and neck surgeon or an ENT for a biopsy to be absolutely certain. This is nothing to play games with especially with your past history of smokeless tobacco use. Congratulations on your quitting and your courage to face this right away. There are many reasons for lumps inside the mouth - you'll sleep better knowing that it's benign. I had an oral surgeon, dentist, hygenist and MD not recognize my stage III tonsil cancer. I doubt that you will have to have your jaw removed. The key to success in oral cancer is early treatment.

Sherman........Congrats on kicking the nicotine habit! About the lump -- Mark is right, certainly go to an ENT and have the lumped looked at and possibly biopsied but don't worry about cancer until they give that diagnoses. There are soooo many things that lump could be. Two years after I finished treatment for tongue cancer, an x-ray spotted a dark shadow and spot on my right lung. SInce SSC takes it's route that way I thought for sure I was a goner, but I wasn't. I had walking pneumonia and that was easily treated. Moral of the story: Don't worry until you have to, it doesn't do any good. Sincerely, Donna

I would get your lump checked out asap, as we have learnt through my mother that early diagnois with cancer is the best thing to do. If you do have cancer of the jaw, read my mothers story, on a link below, under the heading 'I have good news for you all , stay strong'. She had stage 4 cancer and is still going strong, so rather than worry just yet, just get yourself checked asap, as it really makes a difference to your treatment if it is caught early, best wishes su