| Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 | Joined tonight after reading some of the fantastic advice on here and such a wealth of experience.
I live in the uk and am an outdoorsy grandma ..... currently camping with granddaughter on half term holiday .
I am sure you will understand when I say I wish I was not having to be here on this forum but if I do need support then here looks like a friendly and informative place to come.
I have had jaw surgery a few years ago to resolve misalignment of jaw ( at grand old age of 52 lol) and only problems after were some residual altered sensation in chin and salivary duct stones. Recently had what I thought was a blockage again... pain and swelling along and under jaw... but worse. Did the usual salt washes and sucking citrus to no avail and in attempt to see if anything else a problem I took out my partial back denture and shone torch into thr depths! There to my surprise was a rather necrotic looking irregular shaped ridged / indented ulcer looking nothing like regular ulcers. Its right on the gum at the back motly under where the end of the denture lies and totally painless ... if denture had caused it would surely have been agony !!!!
Went to dentist next day .... got antibiotics which seems to have sorted out swelling ... and if ulcer not gone in 2 weeks will be off for referal to hospital for biopsy.
I was a nurse so have a little savvy re medical stuff though not a lot lol.... I was a trauma bod not anything much to do with this sort of stuff .... but know enough to be aware of the possible diagnosis.eg it might be scc. I know only a biopsy will be definitive but the clinical appearance seems to hint at it !
So I see from reading here there are a couple people at least with scc on the gum which is not common ... so if I am to join the club so to speak I may be asking loads questions.
For now however maybe just a little virtual hand holding might be appreciated.
Thank you.
Awaiting diagnosis on necrotic looking ulcer on alveolar ridge.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | Laura, welcome to our family and consider your hand held. You'll find plenty of support here, and likely responses from people who've gone through a similar situation.
Waiting it out - whatever it may be - is always anxiety-provoking, so I'm not going to tell you not worry because that's only natural. But as all of us will tell you, it's not cancer until a biopsy determines that for sure. So hang in there and keep posting and asking questions.
Sending you best vibes from across the pond.
David 2 SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | Laura, welcome to the group. Do keep an eye out for anything in the lymph nodes. The only symptoms my husband had were mouth sores and a lump in the neck. He had antibiotics and the mouth sores and the lump went away the first time. Then, ten months later, the lump returned. Hopefully, it is not scc in your case, but vigilance is the word. Good luck!
Gloria She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016. | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Welcome and hand holding, Laura.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer. And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer. May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF! Wishing you all the best with your upcoming biopsy. Hope its nothing serious!
good luck!!! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 | Thank you everyone .... it helps just finding somewhere to get information as well as sensible support ... keeps one grounded lol. I have had health " scares" before with a suspicious mammogram that turned out to be a bundle of abnormal blood vessels and some abnormal but not cancerous smears ... so crossing no bridges yet...just being aware enough to get properly checked and finding out what I need to know to do so .... although thats not to say immune from the odd oh dear what if thing lol...
Just listening to dawn chorus atm and appreciating the birdsong.
Awaiting diagnosis on necrotic looking ulcer on alveolar ridge.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | See what happens in the next 2 weeks and if it's not cleared then proceed w/ the biopsy. That BTW is the ONLY way to confirm this cancer. Good luck
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | Mouth ulcers can be from anything, a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, neutropenic ulcers, anemic ulcers, tooth rubbing, eating rough foods, burns from foods or beverages, medications, smoking, alcohol, even mouth wash, etc. most times it's something other than cancer, but as David mentioned, if it's there for a two weeks to have it checked out. Good luck with everything
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 "OCF across the pond" Member | OP "OCF across the pond" Member Joined: May 2013 Posts: 8 | well the antibiotics seem to have cleared up the pain around / under the lower jaw and the ulcer on the alveolar ridge looks less "necrotic" so it must have been infected. The ulcer itself is not healing though despite me leaving out my partial lower denture in case it was affecting it. I put it back in after a week but it does not seem to fit properly any more and is rubbing the inside of the gum causing a blister which IS painful !
I have also a tender swelling right up where the lower jaw meets the upper at the back which the antibiotics did not help.
thanks for the info paul .... I did consider other options particularily with having alower denture...... however it did puzzle me how it could get so deep and horrible looking without causing any pain ????? I hope its one of the other causes obviously.. well anything treatable I suppose !
got a week till I have to go back to the dentist
Awaiting diagnosis on necrotic looking ulcer on alveolar ridge.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 319 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 319 | Hi Laura, you've definitely come to the right place for good advice, and for the hand-holding too, for that matter. Not only are these folks very experienced and knowledgeable about this, but you won't find a more compassionate bunch anywhere, either!
You certainly have my best wishes for a Happy outcome, however it plays out.
Best of luck,
Bart
My intro: http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/ubbt...3644#Post16364409/09 - Dx OC Stg IV 10/09 - Chemo/3 Cisplatin, 40 rad 11/09 - PET CLEAN 07/11 - Dx Stage IV C. (Liver) 06/12 - PET CLEAN 09/12 - PET Dist Met (Liver) 04/13 - PET CLEAN 06/13 - PET Dist Met (Liver + 1 lymph node) 10/13 - PET - Xeloda ineffective 11/13 - Liver packed w/ SIRI-Spheres 02/14 - PET - Siri-Spheres effective, 4cm tumor in lymph-node 03/15 - Begin 15 Rads 03/24 - Final Rad! Woot! 7/27/14 Bart passed away. RIP!
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