Hello Everyone,

This is my first post. It's Monday night ...

Just received some serious news 3 days ago on Friday.

Went to see an oral pathologist,

She said I have Candida albicans and that it's very serious, I'm a very high risk for cancer is what she said.

We're treating the Candida for 3 times longer than she does for other patients.

My biopsy is scheduled for June 21st.

I also have leucoplakia.

Anyhow, I've so much to say but I'll try to keep it short,

She said on June 21st that we'll find Candida, or precancerous cells, or cancerous cells.

Those are the only 3 options.

Judging by the photos on the net, I'd say I have cancer.

You can't tell by photos. Truly.

Only the biopsy can tell you for sure what it is. Till then, it's just the candida and the leukoplakia. Even expert doctors can't tell just by a look that something is cancer. They have to do biopsies and lab work.

I'd say try to calm down and wait for the biopsy, but I know that's a lot easier said than done. I *can* tell you that lots of folks come here with questions like yours, and then go away with perfectly fine biopsy results. Those of us who stick around here are the ones who had different results, and we stay so we can help people by sharing what helped us and what didn't. Just because there's lots of folks here doesn't mean you'll be joining the party. (Though if for some reason you do, it's a great support group.)

I would also ask, is it possible to get a test sooner? That's over a month away and that just seems kind of long. Doesn't help the anxiety much... and though you can't change results, you can at least see what you can do to help the anxiety.

((hugs)) and good luck!

Hi! I hope you get good news, but if you don't, remember there are things which can be done. My father had leucoplakia when I was very young. They used a laser to remove it from his mouth and that was that. He's had candida yeast infections, and those have been treated pretty easily with nystatin rinses. He also had the big C, and a recurrence, and has had three surgeries, chemo and radiation and is still here. Don't put the cart before the horse, and start thinking about the worst possible outcome, but know that no matter what you find out on June 21st (whoa, more than a month out for a biopsy?), there are options.

Thank you for responding, Kristen...

My mouth conditions are the perfect storm: dry due to meds, unclean due to depression (got periodontal disease to boot), most probable HPV exposure (had the DNA test below and it came out positive), hairy tongue also, 2-pack a day smoker, rum drinker.

I hope you're right that it could just be the Candida, but it was odd that she said I also have nodules, and said "oh, hard and soft palate involvement"...

Time will tell ...

She also wanted to contact my family doctor.

I'll see about getting an earlier biopsy. That's a good idea.

Thank you, Vicky...

I'm glad to know that your father is still here!

It's important not to put the cart before the horse, as you say,

And I gather that you, too, think I ought to push for an earlier biopsy date,

I will.

Welcome to OCF, May!

Im sorry you may have a need for our support! Hopefully everything you have currently going on does NOT include cancer!!! [b]**IF**[/b] (try not to get too far ahead of yourself.... IF is the biggest little word!!!) it does turn out you do have cancer you are in the very best place for info and support!!! You have so many things going on in your mouth right now all that together could be behind what the doc wants to biopsy.

Im sure you already know this .... smoking or using tobacco in any form eventually will give health problems and any smoker should quit smoking. Please let this health scare be your wake up call to eliminate all tobacco usage right away to give your mouth a chance to heal. I am a former smoker and that is why I have gone thru having oral cancer (OC) 3x in 3 years and have been forced to stop working and dramatically change my lifestyle to something that is slower paced to match my bodys now fragile and greatly weakened state after 3x OC, all the poison from chemo, too many surgeries to even count anymore, unable to eat, have swallowing problems and on top of that Ive lost all my teeth from radiation damage. Thats just me who had been in fairly decent shape when I was first diagnosed in 2007. If I continued to smoke I would NOT have survived! In fact, I shocked my doctors who all were almost completely positive I would not survive the 3rd OC in 2009. Im very VERY lucky to still be here and now I share things Ive picked up from being on the forum reading every single post for almost 12 years. By quitting tobacco you will give your mouth a fighting chance to heal. The same can be said about alcohol... stop drinking immediately!!! Tobacco and alcohol both are strong irritants to the sensitive mouth tissue. Anyone who has a mouth sore, spot, bump, lump etc in their mouth for 2 or 3 weeks and it does not heal on its own should be getting checked out by a specialist. An ENT who specializes in treating OC for most is a good choice of doctor. OC ENTs deal with OC more often than many other types of doctors so they are usually the most familiar with the numerous things that could happen inside a patients mouth. Biopsies are usually a 3 visit deal... first is your initial office visit and if necessary doc gives biopsy options, second visit is the biopsy and third is getting the results of the biopsy. Some doctors will call or email their patients the results but most will want the patient there in the office to discuss the next steps to heal whatever the biopsy determined.

Photos do NOT help to determine what is OC and what isnt. Ive gone thru page after page of photos of many various mouth sores some cancer others not. I was surprised to find even though I knew quite alot about OC and what I had gone thru its next to impossible look at something and tell exactly what it is. Even experienced doctors can only give a guess, an educated guess but its still just guessing until the biopsy says what it is. Theres many different things a mouth sore can be besides cancer. Hopefully yours is nothing serious!!! Ive included a link to our main OCF site where theres tons of info, this explains other noncancerous mouth lesions. Most mouth lesions are NOT cancerous. Hopefully that will help make your situation a little easier and help you to be less worried. Ive always found when I worry about something the more I learn about it and understand it the easier it is for me to manage it.


Main OCF Site, Understanding, Premalignant Lesions

Best wishes with everything!!! Please let us know how you make out with your biopsy results. Good luck!!!!


PS.... Just in case anyone doesnt know what Candida albicans is, per wikipedia...... Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora. It does not proliferate outside the human body. It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults. Around here we usually call Candida albicans.... thrush Thrush can be very painful and difficult to eliminate, especially with so many other conditions affecting the Ph in your mouth.

Hi May,

I am Stage III Head & neck and Oral cancer, and right now I have my 5th Recurrence. I am 1 year post Radiation treatments, and the day after Easter I found out about this latest tumor. My next surgery is May 14.

My oncologist was Surprised that this tumor was yet another of my Invasive squamous cell carcinomas, with Deep Positive Margins.

But it is!!!
And it doesn't look like photos I've seen....
No matter, it is what it is.
I also have a mass beside my vocal cords, that they are treating with Laser surgery, repeatedly.

If you look at my profile, you can see I've already been through hell, now More to come as we try to find what treatment to do next.

I have never smoked, I don't drink, and I am negative for HPV. Completely negative for it.

I strongly hope that all your biopsies are Clear.
Candida albicans is easy to treat, even chronically.
But you should stop drinking & smoking.
Just stop. Find a treatment program that works for you and do it for your health and future.

Crystal

Thank you everyone for writing. I really appreciate it.

I wish you healing energy on your journey.

I'll write more a bit later.

I'm afraid.

I want to respond to the 2 long posts above, but I am paralyzed.

Sorry ...

Did you hear more, is that what's up? Or just fear in general?

Don't worry, we got ya! It's okay, we're here. Breathe deep.

If it IS thrush (candida, as someone pointed out), that stuff is nasty painful. Nursing moms and their babies get it all the time. Not fun. I recall getting that when I nursed ... more the baby got it, and I was being treated so it wouldn't get into my system and get out of hand ... but it IS treatable. It's also fairly common. Mine was a nursing situation, so I only know the breasts / babies' mouth treatments, which won't help you in the slightest, but I can at least offer you sympathy there. I can tell you that in the nursing sense, treating with antibiotics makes the candida worse (I was misdiagnosed with mastitis during part of it, and antibiotics are helpful for that), so be careful what you are prescribed while you clear this up. Or at least discuss with your doctor. (I mean, I'm talking a totally different body part, and it's a known possibility in that situation, but for a strictly oral issue, it might not matter so much.)

Were you able to ask for an earlier biopsy time? If you can't call (I get overwhelmed and can't do all my own self-advocacy sometimes), do you have a trusted friend or relative who can call for you?

And ((hugs)). You will get through this. Day by day. Minute by minute, if you have to.