I want to start by just saying that I'm so appreciative of this forum regardless of what the future holds for me. The last year has been a bumpy ride so I'll provide a bit of history. Summer of 2025 I started experiencing sore and enlarged lymph nodes and malaise. My neck became very stiff. This lead to an ultrasound which incidentally revealed 4 TIRAD 4 nodules on my thyroid. Watch and wait is the medical protocol. Late summer 2025, along with the enlarged lymph nodes and stiff neck, my throat became impossibly sore and I was struggling to breath. I was hospitalized with a peritonsillar abscess which resolved after an in hospital 4 night treatment. Fast forward to summer 2026 and I've had a 2 months of persistent sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes despite two rounds of antibiotics. Earlier in the spring/2026, I noticed a lesion on my gums that did not resolve. My dentist referred me to a pathologist and I've just had a biopsy done. One day after the biopsy, a black or dark red spot has appeared along with a patch of my cheek that has a completely different texture than the rest of the cheek and it's least 2cm above the spot where the biopsy was. The actual spot the biopsy was taken is not sore, although my throat and lymph nodes are worse than ever. I'm not sure whether I should return to the pathologist or give them a call. Truth be told, I am sick with worry and trying to figure out what is happening. I keep on blaming myself. I smoked cigarettes and partied quite hard in my 20's only to completely quit when I had a family. However, in 2020 I was sexually assaulted and returned to smoking marijuana (not everyday but weekly). I'm not sure what I expect by telling you all this but I'm so pleased to be able to open up. Thank you.

Hello LizFromCanada,

Welcome to the OCF Forums.

Sorry you have had a rough go for the past year and are in the midst of a possible cancer scare. Glad that you are getting things checked out and doing your due dilligence!

1st bit of wisdom I'll echo from the veterans around here when I was following the forums after having a potentially precancerous lesion biopsied from my tongue: "it's not cancer until it's cancer...." that is until you get the biopsy results back do as best you can not to be worried sick...

Finding good coping mechanisms and stress outlets to take your mind off things, is good regardless of what turns out.

Pathology reports routinely take up to a couple weeks. Sometimes they have specific dyes and procedures that require multiple sequential steps just to get the microscope slides prepped.

Same type of delays are likely for scheduling surgery, God forbid, that it does turn out to be cancer.

Is it possible the dark spot that appeared after the biopsy was at the location where they injected the lidocaine numbing agent?

Was it the gum lesion that was biopsied?

Did they end up doing biopsy on the peritonsilar abcess? Was it tested for HPV?

Your lymph nodes are central to your lymphatic system and the lymph fluid based immune cells. That said any kind of infection, Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, etc... can trigger the lymph nodes in that area of the body to be reactive.

Try to let the past be the past and move on.

With regard to your overall oral health, especially after a possible cancer scare, keep in mind what things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer, or recurrences of cancer later.

Not sure of what evidence there is with marijuana smoke and oral health, but pretty good evidence all forms of tobacco are uneccesary risk factors for developing cancer.

Last bit of encrouagement, even if it is cancer, they are developing new treatments a lot these days.

Keep your chin up and hope for the best!

Thank you so much for your reply. When admitted for the peritonsillar abscess, initially they swabbed the enlarged tonsil which was blocking my breathing. This did not come back with confirmation of any bacteria. I doubt very much that they test these abscesses for HPV but now you have me wondering why? They did tell me that the infection can be hidden quite well within the abscess. When the abscess finally burst on the third evening after being pumped full of a myriad of antibiotics and steroids, they failed to take another swab.
Regarding the persistent gum lesion...this is the area that they biopsied. Your timeline is bang on...the pathologist said they will call me exactly two weeks following the biopsy on July 28th with the results. I'm really trying to keep busy until then and proactively choosing a healthy lifestyle. I know that there is only so much one can do and control. Please know that just getting your response has made me feel more even keeled.