I've been having recurring mouth ulcers for four months which take on average 3 weeks to heal. My dentist referred me to a mouth surgeon who did xray of jaw which was fine. He also did bloods which were fine. Said he couldn't find anything to biopsy and referred me on to an Oral Medicine Specialist with query "Burning Mouth Syndrome". I'm sure I don't have that, I read up on it, and my problems are nothing like it. Current situation is that the ulcers have cleared up but left behind a tiny patch in my gum which is incredibly painful if touched, it's just under one of my back teeth, and makes the tooth ache as well. My dentist x-rayed the teeth there and they are fine.
I don't really know what to do. This pain is unbearable, but the dentist and the surgeon have signed me off, with my history (see signature) I am worried this might be another cancer, the problem and pain has been there for upwards of three months now, it just does not go away. I could see the oral medicine specialist but he is a long way away and my insurance will only pay for the consult, not any tests, which I would not be able to afford. I suppose what I need to know is, could this be an oral cancer?

Have that specific area biopsied. I welcomed you in the newbie forum, as well. don't wait find someone who will listen and do something! And good luck!

Thanks Cheryl. I suppose I knew to do that but was sort of just constantly hoping it would go away, which it hasn't.

Anything that stays in mouth for more than a month should be examined by someone who knows oral cancer, be it an ENT, or Oral surgeon. You should make sure they have experience with OC as well. Some ENTs make an awesome living doing tonsils and tubes in the ears. It should be someone who has dealt with and knows OC. Good luck. And I'm not sure of your age, they some times tend to poo poo the possibility of OC in someone young or someone who doesn't smoke, drink etc... but these days it's anyone's game - anyone can get it it so if you have something going on in your mouth it should be examined closely, biopsied if it doesn't heal, then monitored if it comes back dysplasia.

Good luck

Hi Griffin, please take Cheryl's advice and get it checked/biopsied by an experienced ENT...I think both Cheryl and I had been mis-diagnosed for several months...these cancers tend to grow fast. I would make an appt. ASAP so you can find out for sure.
hope it turns out to be nothing !

Thanks Ingrid and Cheryl. I have just organised another consult with the Oral Surgeon I saw before. I feel a bit anxious about it as he said it was Burning Tongue, which I am sure it isn't. I can see an ulcer like patch in the gum where it has been hurting for three months and also where my dentist said I had a huge ulcer. I don't know why the Oral Surgeon did not see this last time I saw him, as it was there then, but I think he was focused on looking for another patch on the side of my tongue which cleared up between my dentist writing to him about it and my actually getting to see him. I am worried that this current really painful patch which I can see and has been there for a good three months will suddenly clear up just when I am due to see him next week. I suppose it would be good if it did clear up but if he then can't see it I know I am not going to feel happy about it given it would have been there so long. Is this how mis-diagnosis happens? I know I was quite upset when he said I had Burning Tongue when my symptoms are quite different to that.

To answer your question, I am 61 years old. I have been in very poor health since my original cancer - I never really recovered from the extensive treatment I had. Then cancer on my nose was mis-diagnosed and I ended up with a lot having to be chopped out and the skin graft is bright red as they took it from behind my ear. My breast recon is tiny compared to my ok real breast, same surgeon, I don't know why he made it so small. All in all, I look a real mess, although that does not matter much as I hardly ever go anywhere (except hospitals) due to all my health problems.

Diet! Sorry I had to throw that out there,.. I truly beiieve if you want to heal and help your body through treatment eating the right foods is key. This will help you get your strength back and hopefully you won't get another dx of cancer. Treatment for any cancer can damage the body - proper nutrients and a balanced diet will help boost your immune system, and cell integrity. I hope your oral surgeon listens to you if not get to a good ENT. And I fully believe we tend to be more critical of ourselves, I'm sure you're beautiful

Griffin, any sore in your mouth that has been there for over 2 to 3 weeks needs to be checked by a professional who is experienced with oral cancer. Oral cancer isnt something that comes and goes and often it does not cause pain. My original tumors looked like a canker sore and was there for weeks without much change. Some ENTs specialize in putting tubes in children's ears and some oral surgeons do primarily wisdom teeth extractions and implants. Finding the proper professional is the key to finding out what is going on in your mouth.

Best wishes!

Hi Cheryl, yes diet is always important. I have had mitochondrial tests and have cell damage and this was diagnosed by a doctor who also advises on nutrition and other similar aspects.

Christine, I think the oral surgeon I saw, and will see next week, does the right kind of work. He was recommended. I think he failed to look in the right place because when I saw him there was nothing to single out the particular problem that has persisted from all the other ulcers. If I have any doubts after I see him next week, I will seek a second opinion. Thanks for your advice.

Finally saw the mouth surgeon again today. At last he examined the right area. There is a lesion on the gum beside what he "thinks" maybe a shard of bone that has pierced the gum. Except this happens after (in my case would be wisdom teeth ) extractions and soon after and it is 30+ years since I had the extractions.

Upshot of all this anyway is that he is going to do a biopsy and gum flap (which means cutting the gum to expose the bone and shaving off the sharp bit, if that is what he finds.).

I don't know if he is biopsying the gum, the bone, or both........ I had so many questions I forgot to ask that one.

As far as I'm concerned, I am none the wiser, except it seems to me he could find anything. It could be Breast Cancer mets or new cancer(s), in the gum and/or the bone, or it could be very delayed reaction to wisdom tooth extraction 30 years ago, or it may be something else entirely. I'm just glad someone is now taking some action.

He seems to think the bone is ok from his x-rays. I don't see how he can tell else why does one have to have bone scans to look for breast cancer bone mets? There's a lot I don't understand at present.

So now I am waiting for a date for the exploration, then it'll be the usual wait for results. I am having it under GA as I can't stand the pain already, let alone being cut into right where it hurts.

Any advice gratefully received.

It sounds like you are finally going in the right direction. Just take it one day at a time until then. There is a magic mouthwash that might be able to relieve some of your pain until things get worked out. You would have to use it pretty often, but if it would help....
Let us know what you find out.
Blessings,
Kathy

Good luck! Seriously hoping its not cancer !

Really odd. Since I saw the surgeon on Wed. the whole area where the problem was has changed. The bit of what he thought was a shard of bone sticking throught the gum has receded back inside the gum and is no longer sharp and pointy. The pain has reduced almost to nothing, but not quite gone. There is still signs of a lesion in the gum there, but all other symptoms have gone.

UPDATE and question

As far as I can see, which is difficult as it is at the back of my mouth, there is still what looks like a lesionn there. The change in pain mentioned in my last post is quite strange. I don't get pain during the day, and the area is not painful to touch as it was. But in the evenings the part of the area which is in the gum under two back teeth aches (the teeth are fine, they were x-rayed and no abcess), my jaw under there aches, and I get some pain in the right side of my head, and sometimes in the ear. As I said this only comes on in the evenings.

I just find all this really puzzling. Keep wondering if I really need the biopsy which is now booked for early July. Any ideas?

Griffin,
I'm not sure why you would wait until July for a biopsy if you have a lesion now and have had it for some time. What about trying an ENT who sees cancer patients? Then you'll have a clearer picture of what is happening. Don't let this go because the bone shard (maybe) has disappeared.

That's my opinion.
Best,
Anne

I have to wait til July because that is the first slot the surgeon has. He is an Oral Surgeon. It's only a three week wait.

Griffin,
Sorry, July is slipping up on me. I definitely think you need to get an answer, and a biopsy will likely get you one. Hopefully it will not be anything serious.
Best,
Anne

I saw my oral surgeon today. The symptoms that were there have completely disappeared - which is why I went back to him before the planned biopsy. As they have gone, he is not going to do the biopsy.

There are new symptoms quite close to where the previous lot of symptoms were. Pain. Can't see anything, too far back, and he wouldn't look, he said they were connected with the old problem and bone healing.

I feel terribly confused. I am assuming that because the symptoms disappeared, it can't be cancer as if it was the symptoms would not disappear. And also assuming that the new bit that hurts is as he said, just left over healing problem.

I can't help fretting about this still, mainly I think because I had breast cancer and everything spooks me.

I would ask to see someone else. Sometimes it's an area below the surface that's effected. My tongue was red and inflamed and sore but the first bx came back negative. Well the tumor was in my tongue not on it. So the area over and around the tumor would hurt like hell, then seem to heal - I thought it was allergies or irritation from a bad cap, which could very well have been the cause, eventually the excavated deep enough that they found the trouble maker, get a second opinion.good luck.

I've finally got an appointment to see a doctor who is an Oral Medicine specialist. He is very well qualified and also is a qualified dentist. The new pain turned into an ulcer (at least I think it did, can't really see, too far back) and I have the most excruciating toothache above the ulcer which is unbearable. (I know pain can be referred from anywhere). It's a few days until I see the specialist, so worried how to get throught them in such pain. I am taking anti-inflammatories which help a bit.

Good luck with your appointment - try rinsing with saltwater and baking soda it may ease the discomfort. 1 bottle water 2 tbsp each salt and baking soda - take care!

Hi
Thanks

I saw the Mouth specialist today. He thinks it's an infected tooth leaking into the gum, and has given me an anti-biotic, but is also arranging for more x-rays as nothing showed up on the previous ones. If it is just an infected tooth, I don't understand why two other professionals have missed it. It's great news assuming he is right, but all this pain for all these months !!