I have had an ulcer on the left side of my tongue for about 7 days. It is a raised area with a hole in the center that looks deep, it has a yellowish ring around the hole with an extending red area around it the red area looks like it has some raised taste buds that are turning a reddish - white colo.r

It has not changed for the better of worse. I dont know if my teeth on the side keep hitting it and wont allow it to heal or what. I been to the dentist and a walk-in and they both told me to wait another week to see if it goes away and that they suspect it is not cancer.

I did also have another smaller area just above on the top of my tongue, but it had different characteristics but same pain. This area seems to have healed a bit and does not have any pain.

Am I over-reacting or what? Could this be an infection, or canker? It does not look like a canker sore to me at all. I'm so confused and have convinced myself that this must be cancer. I know a pathology report must say so first, but If its not a canker, what else could it be, but
cancer? I did have a couple of cankers a few monthsw ago on my gum and they went away. Is it possible to have a canker sore on my tongue that has a hole in the center like i described and last for more than a week?

Sorry for all this carrying on, but I'm really concerned.

Dino, the general rule is to observe for 2 weeks and have it biopsied if there isn't a change or the site gets worse. So your dentist gave good advice to wait a bit. If in a week or so it isn't improved, I would recommend that you go to an ENT familiar with oral cancer, preferrable at a comprehensive cancer center, and have him/her take samples for biopsy. Remember that most oral problems are not cancer. However, just to be sure, keep an eye on it and have it looked at if it doesn't improve.

We need more information Dino - do you use tobacco products? Why are you so convinced that you have cancer?

You certainly have something going on but it may not be cancer. Put your mind at ease and take Kirk's advice, see an ENT and get a biopsy. The only reason I would wait is if you are taking antibiotics - then you should allow 2 weeks for a response.

Try to be calm - it's too soon to freak out.

Hi Dino,

Take the above posters advice and relax a little bit. Theres nothing you can do but get the biopsy and get some concrete evidence of what it is. I'm sure all who read your posting are hoping it's a minor infection. Only the pathlogy report can tell you for sure if it's cancer.

I'll be thinking about you Dino,

Best Wishes, Danny Boy

Herpes Simplex Virus I, what you are calling a cold sore, can take up to 14 days to resolve. If you are not there yet time wise, you are way ahead of needing to find out what this is. If you have gone over the two-week mark, then it is time for someone who is trained in these matters to have a look see.... given that you say you have had a cold sore elsewhere in your mouth; the odds are that this too is a viral outbreak of some sort. Also stress is a trigger for those that have HSV to have outbreaks, and you are definitely under stress. There are many things that this could be that are benign and not cancer, I won't go into the long list here, but believe me, 90% of the lesions that doctors see are benign and resolve on their own. When you hit the three-week mark you need to have an answer that this is an aphthous ulcer or something like that, or a biopsy. If the doctors that are seeing you cannot tell you with certainty, then a simple 5-minute biopsy and a $50.00 lab bill will. In the meantime while you are waiting for the days to tic away, try to remain collected and calm.... the stress will only aggravate your HSV I, and potentially cause new outbreaks.

By the way you do not have to hit a return in the little window that you enter your posts in, the type will automatically scroll to the next line when it is ready to. I edited your first post to take all of those out so that it wouldn't be 5 miles long...

IF and when you have to go for a biopsy, the people here will talk you through things and be there for you as your stress level goes up and down. Until you know for sure... don't get too worried.

Hi Dino, while you are waiting try to eat lots of green leafy foods (no salad dressing) and try a vitamin daily. I find that things seem to heal faster with a little nutrition boost.

Thank You all for the replies. This is a great forum. You people are so kind to dedicate your time to respond to stressed out people like me. I hope you all the best of luck with all your own situations.

It is day 8 with my sore and i need to mention that I have been really stressed out for weeks prior to this with my work, my personal life and my mother, who has advanced /recurrent Ovarian Cancer. To make matters worse my day normally consist of no breakfast, no lunch, and dinner at about 7pm. I know i dont take care of myself properly as far as nutrition. It has been a roller coaster ride of stress with my mother and everything else.

Also, on my prior outbreak on my gum line I did go see my dentist, my doctor and an oral surgeon. They all inspected my mouth. I also have a history of cold sores on my outer lip area. If I drink orange juice or anything acidic I will definately get a sore on or around my lip area.
Can this type of virus also invade the tongue? I never had a sore on my tounge like the one I have now and I never really had a canker sore on my gumline like I got before.

I did have a check up about a month prior and blood tests. My doctor told me that my Good Cholesteral was too low and that my sugar was a little high and he wanted me to come back in a month for another blood test.

Here is something that may make you guys laugh. About a month prior to this sore on my tongue, I was inspecting my mouth and noticed a white patch in the back of my throat, in the tonsil area. I was all stressed out and going crazy, so I went to my doctor. The doctor told me it looked like a peice of food was lodged in my tonsil duct. And to wait top see if it work itself out. I thought he was crazy. I was sure it was something bad. So after leaving the doctors I went to work and was really nervous. I was inspecting it in the mirror and decided to take a long cuetip and touch the area. When I did a chunck of garlic popped out. I felt really stuipid.

As far as my sore. It kind of looks like the hole may be closing up a tiny little bit. But, the area around the sore looks like it has tiny little bubble like bumps around it. This thing really is making me nervous all joking aside. Just because of my risk factors of smoking, Alchohol use and HPV.

If this was Cancer on my tongue would it have the charicteristics im describing? If it was would this be an early stage? Could this be a secondary primary site and the primary cancer located somewhere else or would i have had most likely more symptoms from a primary site prior to the secondary sites appearance?

Sorry for my spelling

Again, thank you all for all your replies and God Bless you all.

Dino, It is impossible for anyone to tell what is going on in your mouth. Even doctors that see cancer alot cannot make a true diagnosis just by looking. A biopsy (sample looked at under a microscope) is the only way to know for sure.

For your peace of mind; there are all kinds of things that can make sores in the mouth that are not cancer. In fact the odds of it being cancer are much lower than it being something else.

Try to not worry about this so much until the doctors have tested things out. Generally stress makes all health issues worse. Try to do some relaxation excercises and live one moment at a time. I know it is hard but do the best you can.