| Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 72 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 72 | Cryslyn,
Here�s my two cents.
My husband�s symptoms were a painless �ridge� along the gum inside the jaw on one side, then after a few months (5 or 6) it grew larger and eventually started causing pain. By this time it was 3.5 cm long and growing into the jaw bone. It had also spread to several lymph nodes on both sides of the neck. Some nodes under the jaw on both sides were visible just by looking at him. Unfortunately, at that time he had a full beard, so they went unnoticed. He never had neck pain or headaches and no vomiting.
The vomiting is probably not oral cancer related. If the year old canker sore truly is only 2mm by 3mm, then it�s probably not oral cancer after a year. If it is, it clearly is not growing quickly. See the ENT next week before you freak out, but continue to research and be ready to ask questions. You should join him during the exam. When you see the ENT ask if you can record the session. The ENT should have no problem with that. If it turns out to be something serious, you will want to review the ENT�s recommendations and translate the diagnosis from MD to English. Cancer or no cancer, your fianc�e should also see his GP. If it is cancer, there will be a lot of "hurry up and wait."
Good luck, and from now on make him see the dentist at least once a year! Susan
Susan, CG to husband, diagnosed April 2010, age 56, non-smoker, no HPV Mandibulectomy on left side May 2010 followed by 30 radiation, 3 cisplatin treatments. | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Hi Cryslyn-
OzMojo hit the nail on the head. It's not cancer until the biopsy results says it is, regardless of what any dentist or primary care doctor says.
Your worrying yourself silly at this point is very common, we all went through a certain amount of that when we first found out we MIGHT have cancer. While there is a ton of stuff on the internet about cancer, lots of it is confusing and can make you worry needlessly.
One of the things we tell all our new members who are waiting on results of the biopsy is to just cool out, go do something fun and try to relax (easier said than done). The results will be here soon enough and then knowing what they say (cancer positive or cancer negative) you can THEN start planning out what you should do next. Actually your doctor will tell you what you need to be doing next. We will be here every step of the way to help you understand it, and then get through it with your sanity intact.
If you just can't stand the suspense, start reading the web pages here on the OCF website. It will educate you in a hurry, albeit some of it might not pertain to your exact situation, because you don't know what that situation is yet.
take a deep breath, calm down, you will get through this just fine, regardless of whether it is, or it isn't.
Tony
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0. 11/13 start rads, no chemo 12/13 taste gone, dry mouth, 02/14 hair slowly returning 05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps. 01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter. 12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
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