I recognize that I'm going in out of out of panic mode, due to HPV DX, family history, recent pain and lots of stress in my family currently. So, apologies ahead of time if these are kind of silly questions:

1. For those of you who had ear pain, did it worsen when you laid down?
2. I was thoroughly checked by an ENT with a scope, looking at my tonsils, etc. Generally, is this a good exam to check for H and N cancers?
3. Anyone had unexplained low grade fevers associated with their oral cancer dx?
4. Was dehydration an issue as well (previous to DX?)?
Thank you.

1. I dont think the pain is something that comes and goes or gets worse by moving or laying down.

2. Being scoped is how ENTs will do a thorough exam.

3. Oral cancer will not cause a fever.

4. Dehydration is not a cause of oral cancer.


A diagnosis of being HPV+ does NOT mean you will have oral cancer. About 80% of the adult population will get HPV at some point in their life. Most can clear it on their own and it does not cause any problems. For a very few HPV will cause other health problems (not necessarily cancer). At this time, oral cancer has nto been proven to be hereditary.

If you are unhappy with the ENT who checked you, find another one for a second opinion.

Nomad

I'm going to repeat my prior advice to you: ask for a CT scan of your head & neck. Your ear pain should be enough medical justification after your clean exam by an ENT for insurance to cover it. Although if none of your lymph nodes in your neck have blown up or gotten larger, it's unlikely. My only symptom was unrelenting ear pain for a year, and even then I had to insist on a CT scan which did discover the tumor. In your case, the CT will probably be perfectly clear so then you can quit worrying. No amount of soothing answers here is going to work to calm you down for all the reasons you listed in your original posts. Once the CT shows you do not have cancer, then you can focus on fixing these symptoms. What price is peace of mind?
Charm

Thank you both...excellent and comforting answers.