Hello Everyone,

My mom had her second series of surgery last month and she had the cancer removed from the other side of her mouth (gums) and now we find out it spread to her bone. The doctor and my mother both dont want to undergo a third surgery and the doctor ahs recommended six weeks of radiation. I hope it works to kill all the cancer cells. Does anyone have experience with this?

Also, I have a dear friend who is married to a guy (only 30 years old) who chews tabacco every day and he has white spots on his gums and he told his mother in law that she had nothing to worry about because his dentist said it was nothing. I have read posts in here before that state that white spots on the gums could be cancer. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Also, I wanted to thank everyone in here for the kind posts. It has really helped me immensely and i have forwarded your advice to my mother who has appreciated your help. I have another topic started where I have more detail about my mother's cancer.

Thanks again everyone and God Bless
Stephany

Hi Stephany,
Anybody who chews or uses tobacco everyday is a fool. My dentist could easily see my 6x3cm tonsil tumor (which was practically choking me to death) and didn't know what it was, so you can draw your own conclusions about the Dx ability of dentists. Even oral surgeons and MD's often miss it. Diagnosis of oral cancer is a specialty. Tell your friend to do a search of all the terrified tobacco chewers and dippers here and show it to her husband. Some of our earlist members have been tobacco chewers (and many of them in their 30's). Then get him to a competent ENT or Head and Neck surgeon for a biopsy. If he's not willing to do this then at least maybe he can fill out his advanced directives and get a living trust.

About your Mom, many of us here has been cured with radiation and/or chemo only. It is no walk in the park. Many recommend radiation after surgery as a precautionary measure anyway.

Gary,

Thanks for the reply. That was helpful information. Im running to my office. But I wanted to respond. I will reply more later tonight.

Thanks again Gary :-)
God Bless You
Stephany

Dippers often get white patches where they hold the wad of chew. This one of the first steps to cancer, but usually is not cancer yet, but a precancerous condition known as leukoplakia. While I still hold out hope for dentists to eventually become our first line of defense against this disease by opportunistic screening of everyone that comes into their offices, they are not as a group up to speed yet. OCF is in the process of changing that but it will be years end before we get an educational movie co-produced with various other oral cancer and dental entities into the hands of 130,000 dentists. In the meantime tell your dipping friend to get a new dentist. This one doesn't have a clue.

Hello Brian,

God Bless you So much for this web site! Thanks. Does precancer mean it will turn to cancer? Should I pass this along to her? I would hate to needlessly worry her. Please forgive my ignorance but this is all somewhat new to me..A year now since my mother's oral gum cancer was first diagnosed and I have learned so much! Mostly from this web site...Thanks
Stephany