I went to the doctor numerous times i had my ears checked, mouth check etc. I broak out with cankersoars all over my mouth i have this white line on the left inner cheak and i got this ridge tendon feel in my cheek i feel it with my tounge
I have this peircing pain in my right ear its hurting as i type this. I am so scarred i dont wanna die.. the ear nose and throat specialist didnt really look in my carefull i had this little lump in the soft part behind the roof of the mouth on the left side and its not on the right. He said it was a absessed ulcer and proscribed this ointment for it. i feel like kaiser is over looking my symptoms! please i need some advice i am only 28 years old i am going to get married to the love of my life and i want to grow old with her. I love her with all my heart!

Pat,
It's too soon to panic! It sounds to me like you have an infection of some type. Cancer is characterized by LACK of pain. If the ointment doesn't cure it, ask them for a biopsy.

It sounds like you are really panicking and I don't want to add to it, but I must clarify something. Cancer in its early stages might be characterized by lack of pain, but my daughter has stage 4 tongue cancer and now a recurrence, and her first symptom was pain in her ear, then pain when swallowing. She had no visible lesions, spots or lumps, just pain. GO TO ANOTHER ENT. Get a second opinion. If there is actually a visible lump there, request, no, DEMAND a biopsy.

It probably is NOT cancer, but you need to find out. And you need to do it soon. If you feel this doctor is not addressing the issue sufficently, find another. Find a head and neck surgeon or ENT that specializes in cancer.

Best of luck to you.
Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie

Oral cancer is not characterized by a sudden outbreak of numerous sores, which sounds more like a herpes simplex outbreak. Stress can cause herpes to manifest itself if you have it. Your post certainly sounds like you are under stress... At your age you are also not a likely candidate for this type of cancer unless you are a chronic chewing tobacco user, and you didn't mention anything about the risk factors in our life. Like the others have said, go to see a different ENT, or someone who specializes in oral pathology. They will be able to tell you what's what. Any ointment that the doctor gave you for use in your mouth is likely only to reduce the effects of the symptoms and not to treat disease. My guess is that he gave you something to take away the discomfort of this herpes outbreak and is waiting for a couple weeks to go by when it will clear up on its own usually. There is no treatment for it and it has to run its course.

Brian,
First of all, I don't want to offend you because I think what you are doing with this website is wonderful. I also am going to try to find the time to write a testimonial to help in getting sponsors.

I have a problem, though, when you tell people that they aren't likely candidates because of their age or their lack of tobacco use, etc. While it may be true that the majority of oral cancer victims do have a history of tobacco and/or alcohol abuse and are generally older and also more often male, it is also a fact (which you have stated yourself) that this cancer is striking younger people with no known risk factors.

I understand you don't want to panic people unnecessarily, but I think you do them a disservice by telling them they don't have to worry too much because they don't fit the profile. If any of the known symptoms are there, they do have to worry. Not panic, but worry enough to be sure they are being checked out thoroughly by a qualified professional.

I thought the same as you when reading about the mouth sores, but one thing caught my attention. PIERCING EAR PAIN IS A SYMPTOM of oral cancer and one that shouldn't be ignored. Granted, it could also be a symptom of something else, but it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Ear pain was Heather's only symptom for several weeks, then the pain when swallowing followed. She absolutely does not fit the profile for oral cancer in any way whatsoever. But that doesn't alter the fact that she is very likely going to die from it.

I'm sure by now some of you are probably tsk, tsking thinking I shouldn't be scaring all the newbies. Well, I'm sorry, but maybe they need to be scared. They need to be scared into action. They need to be told to get a second opinion. They need to know how important it is to get a biopsy. They shouldn't be lulled into thinking they don't have to worry just because they don't fit the profile or because their dentist or doctor isn't informed enough to be able to properly diagnose oral cancer.

Well, I'm done. I'll get off my high horse now. But, be assured, I'll be here posting for quite some time to come. I feel very strongly that "not fitting the profile" doesn't mean diddly when dealing with oral cancer.

Sorry, no rainbows or hugs today,
Rosie

Rosie,

Thank you.. God Bless you and your daughter
I am going to see if kaiser has a diferent ent my parents think I am hypercondriac. its nice to have someone who is understanding. did your daughter experience any severe fatigue? or any like spraining feeling pains in her front or rear? of her neck were any of her lymphs swollen?
did she have any thick ridge like feeling in her cheek as i do. please let me know. you and your daugther will be in my prayers

Patrick Emanuel

Never be afraid to speak your mind to me, I've got a thick skin (at least the part that wasn't radiated) and I am perfectly capable of defending my statements. Also this forum is intended to allow the free exchange of ideas, including calling on the carpet, someone who has posted something which is inaccurate or may hurt another person physically or mentally. So here is why I said what I said.

While your daughter is a prime example that there are no absolutes, STATISTICALLY speaking, 75% of all oral cancer patients are or have been tobacco users, most for long periods of their lives. The greatest risk factor for OC is still advanced age, since the vast majority of those who get this disease are over 55. Of the 25% that were not involved in tobacco use, over 85% of that 25% are still over the age of 40, (a study just about to be published) not in their twenties. The average dentist sees at least 3 lesions a day which mimic oral cancer but are not. Therefore, there are MILLIONS more of these non-malignant lesions occurring every year than the 30,000 oral cancers which strike people. If we sent everyone running to their doctor that had a lesion of some sort in their mouth, ringing the alarm about oral cancer, we would unnecessarily be panicking millions of people that do not have oral cancer. This does not serve them or us in our desire to help people. It is no help to someone to move them to action through unsubstantiated fear. We want to help them make good, fact-based decisions. This does not mean that I don

While Rosie and Brian seem to contradict in various aspects regarding diagnosis of OC, they try to hit the same target--- giving some guidance to people at a loss. I think people on board here are mature enough to make their own judgement. Rosie,it hurts when reading some of your recent posts about Heather's recurrence. It seems to me that you are on the verge of giving up.Don't ever give up. I know the rainbow may be hiding away now but who knows one day it may appear again.There are always miracles.Even though I am very far away from you, my heart goes with you and Heather.

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.

Brian,

Actually, I thought perhaps a doctor should biopsy the lump, not the sores. And you are right, in my sorrow, anger and confusion over Heather's condition, I came on too strong.

Patrick,

I believe you need to get a second opinion, especially to address the issue of the ear pain and the lump. Brian and the rest are right, though, the sores and the ridge you describe do not sound like cancer. Heather didn't have any of those symptoms. No sores, no ridge, no fatigue, not even a lump. It is very unlikely that you have cancer and hopefully, getting an opinion from another doctor will set your mind to rest. Just be diligent and be aware of any changes or any new symptoms. Wishing you a happy outcome.

Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie

Rosie, you are an incredibly generous woman to take the time to try to help others, even at a time when your own needs are so great. Your passion to keep others from making a mistake by not seeking treatment, or by blind acceptance is also commendable. We all have found your posts on this board to be articulate, helpful, as well as heartfelt, and I want you to know that my comments should not be construed as any kind of personal attack, but merely aimed at finding balance.