Hello everyone. I'm a 28-year-old female and I have been smoking for about 10 years. About 8 or 9 years ago noticed some small moving lumps on the inside of my bottom gum and they never changed or anything so I never worried about them, but about a year ago i noticed 3 more tiny bumps two on the lower inside right gum and one on the left. Though they don't seem to have grown any in the year or so since I've noticed them I've been very concerned that they could be oral cancer. They cannot be seen, only felt with my tongue or a finger. I finally got my nerve up and went to my regular doctor about them day before yesterday. He looked inside my mouth, under my tongue and said he saw nothing out of the ordinary. I told him that they aren't visible, only palpable. He looked once again and said "I still don't see anything." Then he said for me to just keep an eye on them. I told him I'd first noticed them about a year ago and he replied "well if it hasn't done anything to you in a year's time you shouldn't worry about it." But I am still worried about it. What should I do? Heed the doctor's advice or seek another opinion? Thanks.

Hi,
One of the general pieces of advice you will find on this board is that if you have a lump, red or white patch, or anything unusual in your mouth that doesn't clear up in a couple of weeks, you should see an ENT specialist to determine if anything is awry.

Given that you asked your doctor to feel the lumps and his response was that he couldn't see anything, I would strongly recommend that you see an ENT specialist. Personally, I'd change doctors as well, but that's your call. Best, Sheldon

Hi

1st you didn't say anything about your plans to STOP SMOKING. Stop worrying and see an ENT

I'd love to, but I believe that requires insurance or money, neither of which I have.

At $5.00 a pack or whatever outrageous sum they are now charging for cigarrettes, you could afford to pay the ENT in a couple of weeks just be quitting smoking.

Eileen

I would highly recommend that you see an oral surgeon for lumps related to your gums. Beg, borrow or steal to get the money for an exam. The cost of a cancer exam is well worth whatever it costs.

And by all means, QUIT SMOKING. I hope it doesn't take cancer to get you to stop.

Jerry

I think you should look around this website and read some of the stories here, then tell me you can afford not to see an ENT.

Quit smoking. I was just diagnosed with oral cancer and have had to go thru 2 surgeries to get rid of it. I was lucky and did not have to have radiation or chemo. I had to quit smoking. It is very hard, but you can do it. The patches help. The chance that you may have cancer should scare you enough for you to quit.

Good luck!!

I don't want to come across as rude, but that's how some of these posts seem to me. I'm sure that is not the case with everyone here, and it may not have been intentional, but all I asked for wasan opinion on seeing another doctor. I didn't come here to be attacked for smoking, nor do any of you have a clue about what I can and cannot afford.

Shrittah, I feel confident in speaking for everyone who has posted in saying that there was no attack intended. Smoking is the devil that helped to get a lot of us here, and not one of us doesn't wish we were your age and could make that choice and avoid all we have been through. It was not an attack, but heartfelt and passionate advice from those of us who have very clear rear view vision, who sincerely do not want anyone else to follow us. With regard to finances, where I live there is a teaching hospital/med school where patients are charged according to ability to pay. Perhaps you can check your area for med school hospitals. We all hope you do not have cancer, and at the same time want to impress upon you that if is IS cancer, waiting will only make things worse. We have your best interests at heart. Please do not take offense.