Thank you so much for your answers! No, I have absolutely no pain with this lump. I found it totally by accident. It is small, perhaps pea sized or slightly smaller. It can't really be felt by just grabbing the tongue & pressing, which seems to flatten the lump a bit. You have to try to actually grip it in your fingertips, if that makes any sense.

Was your lump much larger than that? I did also read more cancers were either on the sides of the tongue or the back. Mine is quite close to the tip. I know there are glands in that area, so I am hoping it is a cyst or gland blockage but I'm still worried.

My lump also seems to change in size, although very slightly. I have a habit of feeling it too much, which sometimes seems to 'deflate' it a little. It's always there though. Someone suggested infection, but I have been on antibiotics for an upper resp infection and it had no effect on the lump.

Thank you again for your insights.

Hi,
No one here is going to be able to tell you for sure what you have from our online conversations unfortunately. I'd quit squeezing it to deflate it. You live in Missouri, I'm in Kansas, but I am familiar with Missouri. Do you live near Kansas City or St Louis? If you are close to either of those places you can at least find someone who is more familiar with oral cancer.
Best,
Anne

Hi there bethers answered your questions... But I will confirm what she said. My tongue was red... No ulceration, no white, just red. A biopsy of the area came back inflamed tissue - however if the ENT had taken the time to palpate he would have felt a lump inside my tongue. I thought it was scar tissue from where I'd had a piece of thickened skin removed ten years earlier, but no it was a tumor - definitely see someone who knows oral cancer. You can go see your oral surgeon again, but I'm not sure if it's a waste of time and money since he has already decided its nothing. Sometime because you're young the don't ntertain the idea (it's an old mans cancer usually involving heavy smokers and drinkers) Ipoint in fact I met with my SO on Monday, he sent his fellow in to examine me (a new guy from Switzerland - ) an the first words out of his mouth were - so how many cigarettes do you smoke a day? He almost fell off his chair when I told him I've never smoked, never drank, and I'm almost a vegan... It's those preformed beliefs that they sometimes have a hard time getting past. Hugs and good luck... And three hours is not fun, but it's worth it for your peace if mind and you're worth it.

I think I found a fantastic place in St Louis that has doctors that specialize in head and neck oncology. That's what I need, right?

Does anyone know of a connection between glossitis (loss of tastebuds) and oral cancer? Glossitis is the only thing I've been diagnosed with definitively regarding what's going on in my mouth.

If you are close to St Louis, Barnes hospital should have a ENTs on staff who see oral cancer patients. Yes, ENT oncology should be what you need.

I don't know any names there, but sounds like a good stop for you. We might have someone on the forum that has seen a doctor in St Louis, I do not know.
Best,
Anne

Hello. I have the same problem as honeybee. PLEASE let me know what happens

Calvin read my reply to you in the other posting. Take care!