Kendra, Go to an oral surgeon or an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor. If you don't already have a doctor in either of these categories, you may want to go to whatever doc you regularly see and see if they can help get you in quickly.

Or, if you decide to just call oral surgeons or ENTs directly, be sure when you call on the phone to set up an appointment that you tell the person at the other end about the lump, that it is growing and that it is causing you pain. I say this because you want them to give you an appointment as soon as possible and unless you let them know the symproms that are worrying you probably won't get an appointment quickly.

Good luck and do let us know what happens!

Nelie

Hi Kendra, Do you have a GP? If so, please see them or your Dentist for a referral to an ear, nose & throat (ENT) Dr., (it may be different where you are from Canada, but most of the posts show the procedure is to start here.) They may then decide to do a biopsy or CT scan (a punch biopsy takes only a little and hurts like biting your tongue, take a friend along.) Try not to worry during the whole process as Cancer is rare and you are just taking care of yourself, which is the thing to do. I couldn't even give my little boy "fish kisses" at bedtime (where you "pucker up") because I left my ear pain & white ulcer a whole year, as a single mom I found it hard to worry about myself...you are presumably on your own and have yourself to look after. The board members can be most helpful and education and proaction will help you your whole life. Good luck Kendra, be well!
Maria

If I were starting from scratch, not in my home town, and likely as a student you don't have much experience with the medical system, and couldn't find an ENT or oral surgeon, then what I would consider doing is going to an Urgent Care Clinic (not emergency room unless there was no urgent care clinic) and ask for a doc to look at it, explaining per Nelie's excellent suggestion that it is fast-growing so they get you right in to see it.

Any doc who sees something of this nature is going to immediately set you on the right course with an ENT or an oral surgeon for appropriate treatment, but as soon as you get away from the specialties, the office staff are usually more concerned with optimizing the Doc's time. If you are having difficulty, this is a good time to let your anxiety show so they will want to deal with you fast.

Depending on your own personality, it might help considerably to have a small notebook to take notes -- I noticed that I was having to ask my ENT several times about simple stuf that should have stuck to my memory like glue.

Please let us know what you do and find out. As you've already discovered, it really helps to talk about it with people who really care.


Pete

I am going to an urgent care clinic today as I can not get in to anyother doctor until the end of next week or an ent doctor until the end of the month. Thank you for all of your support. I will let you know what I find out tonight.
kendra