Hi, name is Brett.

For the past three months I have a little spot of what appears to be white swollen pappile near the midline and back of my tongue. that is, on the dorsal surface and near the back and center there is a kind of gash above the swollen pappile..it.. looks like a fissure about 1 cm long... and it itches... in fact the right side of my tongue has an itchy area right around it... sometimes the pappile bursts (it's really tiny) and there is a little hole.. and then it will do it all over again.

My PCP sent me to an ENT, but would not try antibiotics.


I am afraid I have sticked my tongue out, hyperextended it so much looking at the thing that it made IT sore.

The inflammed pappile spot is about 2mm in diameter and it seems to be a little sore.. especially if I pallpitate it.
I am going to an ENT tomorrow for an inspection and a biopsy of it.

I have looked at the rest of my tongue and all over.. and there is nothing else to see.. no white or red areas.. although like I said the right side of my tongue seems inflamed. There are no lymph nodes swollen.. but my tonsils sometimes swell if I stick out my tongue to far.

What can I expect for a biopsy?

Welcome to OCF Brett!

Glad you found us, sorry you had to!

Biopsies of the inside of your mouth or on your tongue shouldn't be too bad really. They usually give you a local and take a few small samples to send to pathology, who then analyzes the samples under a microscope and determines if it's cancer or not. As they are the "only" way to confirm cancer, what you should expect are answers really.

Take each step as you have to and try not to let fear and worry overcome you. The survivors on these forums should give you hope that even "if" your biopsy comes back positive (and to be clear there are several other conditions that could be going on in your mouth, not necessarily cancer) it doesn't have to mean it's the end of the world.

As I say often, there is strength in numbers and that's why I always recommend plugging into these forums and the other patients, survivors and caregivers that can relate to what you are going through.

Best of luck, keep pluggin in and keep on keepin on!

Eric

Brett, welcome to OCF! I hope you dont need to be here and that your sore turns out to be nothing serious!

As far as a biopsy goes, its usually a 3 visit thing. First time is the exam and they will give you 3 options. They will take your insurance info and get pre approved. The next visit is the biopsy and the third visit is the results. It usually takes a week for the results to come back. Most often you will need to go into the office to get the results in person.

The 3 ways to do a biopsy are as follows. Do it without anything to numb you, a local numbing agent or to be knocked out under anesthesia. Personally, I prefer just to let them take a tiny snip without anything. Then you dont have the numb mouth for hours or worse, have to get someone to drive you and sit with you while you sleep. Its really not that bad. You may be sore for maybe 2 or 3 days at the most. Of course all that depends on where your sore is and if the doc can easily get a tiny sample.

Try to keep yourself busy so you dont worry. I know its not easy to do but try reading a book, watching movies, or something else to keep your mind off the mouth problem.

Good luck!!!

Good luck on your biopsy! It shouldn't be too bad. Maybe a few days of pain... Minimal. Take care.

Hi Brett - I'm so glad you found this place. It's the best place to be for all the latest information and the compassionate and knowledgeable help from those who have been where you are. My son's biopsy was in a very swollen portion under his tongue. They just snipped a portion off with no numbing or anesthesia and results were a week later. It's good you are getting a biopsy which will tell you more clearly what's happening and can put you in control or what the next steps are. It could be just nothing but whatever it is, you will be better able to do something about it. Keep in touch here and let us know what's happening with you.

Hello again,

Thank you everyone for your welcome.

I had the biopsy done, it took about 5 minutes (punch biopsy)
That was 4 days ago.. it was a little hole on the top of my tongue near the center line.. about 3mm diameter, about 2 mm deep.

No sutures. It plugged up right away and it looked filled in.

But today I woke up and the plugg must have come out.. and now it hurts.

How long do punch biopsies without sutures take to heal?

I see the doctor in 13 days

I have a terribly good imagination, so it being painful from time to time on the fourth day makes me feel terrible, I see it as an ominous sign.

When the ENT saw the little dot, he looked through his magnifying thing and said "unremarkable" and then we did the biopsy, then on the way out he said I should not be concerned..that sometimes the tounge can do things like this..my PCP said the same thing and so did the dentist...

perhaps because it's right near the mid-line and top of my tongue
they do not seem concerned?

It sounds good! Usually a few days after surgery or a biopsy are the worst. Despite the fact hat our body clears the meds - it sometimes takes that long for the freezing to go away. Re location. Most of the tongue cancers (oral) tend to be under the tongue. Hopefully it won't take 13 more days to get the result. Bu I wouldn't worr too much. Take care!

Hi Cherld,
I don't understand "freezing" to go away? and relocation?

Freezing - usually they freeze you locally During the biopsy - it wears off but sometimes the actual pain sensation is the worst a few days after... re: location - I meant - with regards to location - usually oral tongue cancer is under or on the side of the tongue.