Hi everyone, and thank you for reading this..... I went to the dentist on the 30th and he referred me up to UNC school of dentistry for a biopsy of two white patches he found in the back of my lower jaw. I have had no pain what so ever from these patches and usually if I ever get a sore in my mouth it hurts big time because I have a low pain tolerance. Anyways I go up there tomorrow for the biopsy. I don't really know what to except because in for years now I have had Sarcoidosis and it has spread throughout my body and if you read up on it, it says u have a higher chance of getting leukemias, lymphomas, and lung cancers. My immune system is destroyed because of all this and also I have been taking a chemo drug since June called Methotrexate to combat the sarcoid. So that just pushed my immune system even more down in the dumps. I have a gut feeling this is cancer and if it is, I really really don't know what I am going to do. My husband talked to his old dentist that graduated from UNC and is working in CA and has been a dentist for I don't know how long. I think he told me, he was almost 90 years old. But I talked to him over the phone and explained everything I am going through and he even said it is most likely 90% cancer. I'm just not having a good day, or at that a good week AT ALL!!!!!

Hi, you are doing the right thing getting it checked out.

It may not be too bad. I went in to surgery to remove an ulcerated sore on my tongue, and that is how we discovered a tumor. I hear most tongue ones don't really hurt at first. But it wasn't too far along, and my subsequent tests and surgeries have been just in case. Hopefully yours, if it is cancer, will also be early!

Just think, all the meds you are already on have probably helped fight any potential cancer. Hold to that positive thought.

Either way you have to go through the process of discovery. Next step is to wait for the biopsy results. I realize the anxiety your faced with but the results can't be changed. Once you know then you can react and plan next steps. Hang in there. This group is your best resource and we have all been through the waiting for answers phase.

OK if it does come back BAD.... And they do the surgery to remove it but don't recommend chemo/rad, can I step up and say that I WANT to have the chemo and the radiation?

That is something I would not want to give direction on. I think the medical professionals would be the ones to ask. For myself if I had the decision I am not sure I would want Chemo/Rad having just come out of it.

Tina, welcome to OCF! Im very sorry you are going thru this. Please know that NO doctor or dentist in the world can diagnose you with cancer over the telephone. It is NOT possible! Even by sight a doctor can have a suspicion but until the biopsy returns they cant be positive what the sore would be. I hope it is not cancerous.

Try to keep your mind occupied with things that require concentration. Read a book, watch movies with plots that twist and turn, if you have children make the most of the wonderful weather outside with them. Being busy will help the week go by while you are waiting for the results to come back.

At this point, you are getting way ahead of yourself with devising your own treatment plan. Lets get you diagnosed first.

Best wishes!!!

I'm sorry for your troubles. Different cancers are treated differently, and its undertermed right now, I think. Even if in the mouth, it needs to need to be treated by the type of cancer it is, I believe, not just location. James is right, discuss this with your doctors, and want to add if chemo and or radiatin is not used in treating a specific type cancer or in a clinical trial, even if you request it, I doubt many will want to do since its not protcol. Maybe someone would do it "off label." On the other hand, if they recommend chemo or radiation, it is always your decision to have it or not, not that I'm recommending to do that. Good luck with everything.

Please try and calm down as this will not do you any good regardless of the outcome of the bios. One step at a time so do let us know what the results are.

Well went up there and it was , was a consult. I was so angery!!!! And this place doesn't take insurance. U have to pay out of pocket. They said I have two big white patches on both sides of my cheeks and a red patch on my left side cheek. Whole bunch of crap was said and then he said that I was to come back in 3-4 weeks for the biospy and then wait a week for the patho. It cost me $85 for him to just look in my mouth for 30 seconds and the said it would be $230 per biospy!!!!!! They said the would call me with the appointment. Nah...... on the way home I called a ENT near home and have and app Tuesday. I told the woman on the phone what was goin on and she asked why a dentist sent me to another dentist for something like that? But that is my update. Hope y'all are doin well.

Good move. We all have to look out for ourselves!! Tuesday is close so try and remain calm until then.