I've been reading these posts now for about 3 hours debating on whether to write. I am a 27 year-old man with a small lesion on the inside of my cheek. It has just a hint of white (more translucent than anything), feels rough to my tonge, and appears somewhat corrogated. It's been here a week now and it hasn't cleared.

I have a history of smoking and dipping in college and just picked up dipping again recently during finals.

I am somewhat embarrassed to write in this forum b/c I feel so many people here have so much more to deal with. However, my background makes this hard for me to deal with. I spent 3 years in a PhD program studying none other than oral cancer and mentored by an Head and Neck Surgeon.

To be honest I am freaking out right now. I know more than I wish I did about oral cancer and I also have a quasi-phobia of cancer. I keep playing with the spot so much, looking at it in the mirror that I think I might cause the transformation myself.

I have a beautiful 4 month old daughter and I just keep thinking about what if scenarios. I think about the odds that even if this turns out to be treatable with resection what are my odds of never having it again. All of this is so irrational, but I can't help it. I'm not getting anything done.

I just needed to vent with someone other than my wife.

Well Spade - you should be! Quit that stuff NOW! But before you totally freak we have a saying around here "It ain't cancer until the pathology report comes back and says it is".

Don't get ahead of yourself here. Although people at your young age do get cancer, it is not that common. So what does your mentor have to say about this? Have you had a biopsy yet?

I get stuff like that from biting myself while I'm eating food. I mistook a healthy salivary gland for a new tumor. Get it checked by a head & neck surgeon or ENT and be grateful for your wake up call.

We can ALL relate to the phobia of cancer (I still have it)!

Spade,

Waste no more time and worry and get the thing biopsied. Like Gary says, it ain't cancer until the can prove it to you. Peace of mind is too important to run a thousand scenarios over and over in your mind.

We have all done what you are doing and most likely more often and for a longer period of time. I remember clearly when the doctor told me what my pathology report said. I couldn't believe it and months later I am still terrified, although tolerating everything. Your training and education give you an extreme advantage over the rest of us because you already know more than what we have had to learn. However, the same thing gives you a disadvantage because your knowledge can propogate more fear.

Have it checked out and take each step as it comes. You can't run the race if all you see is the finish line.

I know how difficult this must be for you. We are here if you need anything.

Ed

Ok Spade
We've all been there.. time for the biopsy.. soonest sorted soonest mended.. a least you know it's only been there for a week.. your knowledge is standing you good... most people don't find lesions for months..
sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

Hi Spade

I am 29 only two years older than you. I know how you feel especially about being so young.
Right at this moment you have got yourself into a state of panic over this which is understandable. Calm down and b r e a t h e. You don't actually know if this is the real deal or not yet.
I think you should go and see your GP. There is no alternative but to do this. If you don't and its nothing you are just going to continue panicing and if it is something more serious than hopefully you will have caught it early enough. The longer you leave this, if it is cancer, the worse it will become.
Be brave now and take the next step. Everythign is treatable but you need to get it looked at real soon.

Wishing you the best of luck
Sweety

I wouldn't see a GP - I did that (as others here have too) and got 2 rounds of unneccessary antibiotics and an additional stage from not having an accurate Dx in a timely manner. The mouth and throat is a specialty area. My GP was looking at a huge, highly visible tumor (6cm x 3cm) for months and couldn't recognize it for what it was. It took the ENT about 5 microseconds to figure it out. See an ENT (or head & neck surgeon)- just MHO. If it IS cancer you don't want to waste any time. The earlier the staging the higher the survival rates.

Spade,

Typically anything that doesn't heal within 2 weeks should be scrutinized very closely by an expert that know what they are looking at. I personally believe that a head and neck specialists are the experts, whether that be an ENT or an ENT/Oral Surgeon. I would get to a comprehesive cancer care facility. At the very least get you dentist to refer you to an ENT. I would start the balling moving forward so that if the times comes you'll have your appointment and if the lesion heals or better yet falls off that you can simply cancel the appointment.

I'm glad you're asking the questions early. I'm also glad you found us. Keep us posed.

Lynn

Welcome Spade,

Get the referral to a ENT ASAP. The sooner the better. Remember "It Ain't Cancer Til They Say It's Cancer"

Best of luck and keep us posted when you get the GOOD news.

Dan

Ok, it's on your cheek, you've been dipping or smoking. Time to quit playing David Letterman's "Is This Anything" and get it checked by an ENT/Biopsy.

Had a similar deal going on about 6-8 months ago, this is after 2 cancer surgeries and etc. White spot with rawness, both the Oncologist and the ENT were concerned. General anesthetic, 45 minute procedure, it was out. Pathology said Lichen Planus, but now I don't have to worry about that anymore. 2 Weeks later, better than new.

I've used this before, but once Joe Nameth said not knowing what was wrong with his body was worse than knowing what was wrong, even if it was something bad. Save yourself a lot of worry and get it checked.
Bob

Spade,
I was in a similar situation just about 1 year
ago.
Definitely get to an ENT for an evaluation and
bypass the family doctor. Saving time is to your benifit if it's cancer or not. You need to know
ASAP. If it turns out to be nothing, look at changing your lifestyle, a lot more than nicotine
can cause cancer. If the biopsy is positive, the
sooner you treat it the better for you. Bring
someone with you to listen to all doctors and ask a lot of questions before deciding on a course of
action. Ask about things like options for treatment and which treatments create side effects
with later quality of life issues. The various
doctors will give opinions based on their area
of expertise but the only person with an overview
of the whole picture will be you. You are in charge.

Good luck!
John

Squamous Cell Carcenoma of the neck with no primary found. Tonsilectomy, multiple biopsys, , Modified Radical neck dissection,23 glands removed. All teeth removed, 3 mouth operations
for bone adjustments, 6 weeks of radiation therapy.6 weeks of radiation. Currently cancer free.