ORAL CANCER??

[marnold]

I HAVE HAD THIS PAINLESS BUMP ON THE ROOF OF MY MOUTH FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS NOW. THE DOCTOR SEEN IT AND SAID IT'S PROBABLY A SWOLLEN GLAND. I'M A 24 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE  AND I SMOKED BLACK AND MILD CIGARS FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS(HAVEN'T SMOKED IN 4 DAYS AND WILL NOT START AGAIN.) THE DOCTOR DID NOTICE AN ULCER(PAINLESS ONE) ON MY UVULA AND PRESCRIBED PENICILLIN. NOW MY THROAT HURTS AND APPEARS TO BE REALLY RED AND SWOLLEN. I HAD A SOFT PAINLESS LUMP ON MY NECK BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWN. I KNOW I'M ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THIS, BUT I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOME INPUT AND OPINIONS FROM YOU DOC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE.

[Scorrenti]

I was in my mid 30s when the lump in the roof of my mouth was diagnosed as oral cancer. When I first had it checked I was told it was an infection by an ENT.. Five years later my dentist and my primary urged me to have it biopsied. Low and behold it was a rare form of oral cancer. I waould strongly suggest having the lump biopsied by an oral surgeon.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience. How are you today after diagnosis and treatment? Here's some information for those reading on oral cancer https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mouth-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350997  Being evaluated by a medical professional is excellent advice.  

[saammyy]

i have a small cut in my gum (v ridge part upper). it is a hairline cut its not sore or painful... its more like a thin cut made by blade or somethin....

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
No, even considering that possibilty, the probability of you having oral cancer at this stage and age are very low. You did good to stop smoking, and do not take it up again. In any milder form too it is equally dangerous.
Hope that you are much better now.
Also do follow up with your doctor, so that a clinical evaluation of your recovery can be done.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

[marnold]

Thank you for the response doctor. I was beginning to think it was a simple throat infection. One more question , being that Black n Milds are worse than cigarettes, is it possible to have sped up the cancer process even at my age? Thanks again doctor for your response and input.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It's hard to say what that "bump" in the roof of your mouth is, without having actually seen it, although from the information you've posted, you seem to be having a throat infection.  The bump may indeed be a swollen gland which is part of the infection you're having.  The neck lump you described seems to me to be a lymph node.  This is a cluster of white blood cells which come together near sites of infection.  If you're thinking that the bump you have may be cancer, it probably isn't, given your age.  Cancer needs some time (years, even decades) to develop before it becomes noticeable.  That's one of the reasons why you see it more in older people, than people your age.