#89812 02-10-2009 07:24 PM | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 | My 56 yr old sister quit smoking for good on Nov 4, 2006. She has type two diabetes, RA, and a few other medical problems. In March of 2007, while on Humera, she developed right sided numbness that went from her right thumb and encompassed the entire right side of her body in a few hours. Feeling on her right side has never returned. The diagnosis after MRI and spinal tap was MS brought about by the Humera. Now on the right side of her tongue on the bottom towards the front is a dime sized white sore. It looks white and like several layers of skin has grown back around it. Kind of weird to explain. The sore never bleeds and doesnt seem to change. Shes had this for the past two months....around the same time she started being infused with Orencia for her RA. Everything I have seen online regarding cancerous tongue sores look much worse than hers looks so is it possible that she could be biting herself in the same place over and over again? She has poor dentation and the tooth directly under that spot on her tongue is a broken silver filled tooth that we havent been able to find a dentist willing to fix on her insurance. Anyone have any ideas or comments? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Please have your sister checked by a dentist or ENT (ear nose and throat specialist). We do have 2 dentists who post on here, hopefully one of them will answer your question. Its probably not something that can be diagnosed over the computer, just like an auto mechanic cant assess the broken car over the phone.
It could be just irritation from the tooth. Only a professional who does a thourough oral screening will be able to tell if it looks serious enough for a biopsy. Having a biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if its cancerous. Wishing your sister the best of luck with this.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 | She is scheduled with an ear/nose/throat specialist on Feb 20th. Hopefully the dentists will see this post and reply. Thank you for YOUR reply. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Anything that persists in the oral cavity for more than 2 weeks should be looked at by a professional.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | It certainly is possible that the sore is being caused by constant irritation from the broken filling. However, as Christine said, it is impossible for me or anyone to tell you what it is over the internet.
The only way to find out what the sore is, is to have a biopsy. It certainly has been there too long and as David said, anything that is there for over 2 weeks, should be biopsied.
If the tooth can't be fixed, the least that she should have done for the time being, is to get it smoothed so that if it is causing irritation, that will stop.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | LoneWolf, I'm happy to hear she is scheduled to see an ENT. I had a sore on my tongue for a year and my dentist didn't think it was anything at first. After it wasn't getting better he sent me for a biopsy and sure enough it was cancer. I don't want to scare you but it's better to find these things early. Good luck to you and your sister and let us know.
Suzanne
Suzanne
***********
T1 SCC on right side of tongue
Age 31...27 when diagnosed
4 partial glossectomies
No chemo or radiation
Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear
Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011
Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10
It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,170 Posts196,933 Members13,105 | | Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020 | | |
|
