I wouldn't wait a month. If this is all about a couple hundred dollars the insurance might pay, then ask your dentists for a referral to his oral surgeon. Someone needs to stick a needle in that node and give you a black and white gold standard answer. Self refer to a different ENT that is more than a 4 year doctor, but a 6 year head and neck surgeon ENT, they would be unlikely to let you out with such an obvious symptom. We get so many 4 years ENT's that are no better than general dentists at knowing what the warning signs and symptoms are.

OK I am totally freaking out now. I went to the GP on tuesday to see if they could get me referred to the ENT more quickly. She said she couldn't even feel that a node in my neck is swollen and swore I just had TMJ. So I calmed down a bit and the throat pain/lump and sensitive tongue kind of went away. She said to follow up with the dentist about TMJ and they would send a referral to the H&N department.

The pain/irritation resurfaces quite often however, and i couldn't help looking around around in my mouth. The small lump inside my tongue is still there and i was looking around and notice a red circle around underneath where the lump is. There is no pain or bleeding even when I squeeze it.

I'm completely terrified. It's too late for me to schedule an appointment anywhere tonight and I don't know what to do with myself.

Is there anywhere I can go tonight? If I go to the ER would they even be able to do anything?

Could this be anything BUT cancer?

When I went to the GP they swabbed my throat to check for a bacterial infection but it came back negative.

Someone PLEASE tell me something positive!!!

Also, the muscle behind my ear feels swollen and pushed. Does this mean likely that the tip would not be the origin? I know no one can diagnose, I just need to be able to convince myself that the world is not ending.

It could be anything a canker an irritated area, but I would most definitely show it to a qualified ENT, and point out the lump. Don't freak - Being here and reading the posts makes it seem as though there are a lot of oral cancers but it actually is quite rare - though HPV BOT related cancers are on the rise. Hugs

Jon,

Even IF it is cancer, the world is not ending. There are many long term survivors out there. It's been 8 years for me and I have some "OC friends" who are still living a great life at nearly 20 years.

Going to an ER probably won't help. You need to see a specialist (ENT) who is familiar with oral cancer. The only way to confirm for sure that you have cancer is through a biopsy. It could be a number of things besides cancer. Keep pushing for an answer. Best wishes!

I figured I would post to possibly help some of the other people out there struggling with strange symptoms.

I had a second visit to an ENT last week, whom I was much more confident. He went through each symptom I described, and the time frame it occurred, and examined each relatively thoroughly, and explained to me the anatomy of each part. He then scoped my nose and throat on both sides. He said my vocal chords looked red, and that I most like have GERD, caused in part by my love of spicy foods, beer, and stress. He also said pretty definitively that I do NOT have C. He did set up a CT scan for me however to be even more sure than he already is.

So far, I have been "diagnosed" with TMD, Mastoid Tendinitis, and GERD. I am doing my best to live my life accordingly. I greatly appreciate the advice given that it's not cancer til a biopsy says it is. And I currently don't have anything to biopsy, so I am trying to live my live accordingly.

The CT isn't a perfect indicator, but I don't even know what else could possibly be done to ease my fears beyond that. I am just taking this as the best possible reason to make positive lifestyle changes, and enjoy every day even more than I already do.

Another thing I have learned is how many amazing people there are in this world. Everything I have read in here has definitely been a booster to my faith in humanity. Thank you all.

I will post the results of the CT, but I'm sure I am just a stress case.

Stay positive and love your life!

Well, waiting for the CT scan results, but I have found a very hard round mass right below my earlobe, between my jaw bone and my mastoid. Kinda starting to believe the worst. Was prodding my tosils and now i get blood in my spit also. Trying to get an appointment with the ENT but of course this happens on Friday afternoon...

At least I will be able to have them biopsy the mass, even though there isn't much else it could be at this point....