I'm Suzi, age 57 in Houston with a 2 year history of mouth sores. I assumed it was due to taking methotrexate for my Rheumatoid Arthritis, since I've been on and off that for roughly 20 years. I seemed to get more sores after each dental visit (complete upper and lower dentures in 2017) despite taking foluc acid with my mtx every week. I also contracted both herpes and HPV back in my teens when I wasn't quite so careful. My rheumatologist took me off the methotrexate back in June due to a pretty extreme number of sores in my mouth and GP put me on Valtrex, a dental paste and troches to dissolve orally 5 times a day.
At that time she noticed a lesson under my tongue, which I chalked up to being just another sore even though she told me to get it checked by an ENT and warned me it probably needed to be biopsied. Did I listen? Nope. Now I've found 2 more raised areas in my mouth and another whitish-patch which I wouldn't really call a sore. Went back on the Valtrex a week ago and no change. I'm back on the methotrexate, have added leucovorin. So, guess I'll be finding an ENT this week to find out if something is actually growing in there. And yes, I've been smoking for 40 years so I'm not very hopeful. Would be my luck I spend 20k on new teeth and end up with cancer. So glad I found this group and keeping my fingers crossed. That's my introduction!

Welcome to OCF, Suzi!!! Im sorry I missed your post!!! By now I hope you have found an ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer (OC) patients. If not, please find one to check your mouth and the areas of concern. It could be any number of things going on including as you suspect, some sort of side effect from the medications. Hopefully its not OC!!! If it would be, you already have found the very best place for up to date and correct medical info and support.

As a former smoker who has been thru wayyy too many things from a direct result of my tobacco usage, please try your very best to eliminate all forms of tobacco from your life. Please do your very best to use this scare as a motivator to quit smoking. Its not easy to quit. Once you make up your mind you are ready to quit and find what motivates you then I know you can do it. When I was first diagnosed with OC in 2007, I started cutting back on my smoking until the shock of my cancer diagnosis wore off then I could focus on eliminating smoking and tobacco dependancy. Please try to quit. I know its not easy, if I can do it I know others can too. It really can make a difference in yoru life weather you are diagnosed with cancer or not. I know you will feel so much healthier when you are free from tobacco usage.

Please keep us posted on hiw yoiu make out. Best wishes!!!