Hi
following a tooth extraction last Friday,my dentist spotted an "area of concern" in my mouth and has refferred me to the Maxillofacial Unit at Leeds Dental Hospital for a biopsy of the lower gum on the left side of my mouth.I have no teeth there and knew i had hyperkeratosis because it is the side i chew on,and it gets very sore and inflammed if i eat crisps or sharp food or brush my teeth too hard,but he said the gum has a white patch on it which needs investigating.
My appointment came through today and i have to go on Friday morning.This is just seven days since he contacted them,so i guess he must be really conerned.I am having difficulty believing this is not a horrible dream and i am going to wake up in a minute.

Question:If this should be anything nasty what will the treatment be likely to be?

I know the advice will be its nothing till someones says it is ,but i would like to have some idea of what i might be facing.

love liz

Good evening Liz,
I was with Vinod at a meeting in London yesterday and I think he said he was there for another couple of days, I am sure he will respond but it may not be until tomorrow.
You have been too close to this problem not to be worried about what Friday brings so I will answer your question by relating my personal experiences.
I won't go through the details of the first cancer because I delayed seeking advice for far too long so this experience is not relavent.The second and third tumours were diagnosed at an early stage (a little beyond the white patch stage) and the removal was quite straightforward. On both occasions I went into hospital in the morning, the operation took about one hour I was home the next day and apart from the stitches I was more or less back to normal by the end of the week. My daughter had more trouble having a difficult wisdom tooth removed. The most agonising bit is the waiting for the biopsy result (one to two weeks).
I hope this does't sound too brutal but I think you were looking for the cold hard facts rather than nice words.
Now then, I think you know that there are a number of reasons for white patches so let's look on the brighter side and hope it is nothing to worry about I know it is easy to say don't worry but not so easy to accomplish, but how about giving it a try ?
I am sure Vinod will be in touch as soon as he gets to a computer.
Please keep us posted,
Keep Smiling
John

Hello Liz

I am on train back home from today's meetings. The obvious reason for the white patch (hyperkeratosis) is because it is the side you chew on and that is what I would expect the biopsy to show. Your dentist is doing what he should but your maxfac surgeon will decide. But remember that it is always best to be prudent and he will suggest a biopsy if there is any possibility of doubt. And if there is anything , it would have been caught early. Either way, you win.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hope everything is OK for you Liz. Bet you could really do without this. Please let us know how you get on. And by the way, I just loved John's reply to you. I don't know about you but he made me feel better.

Take care

Lorraine

Hi Liz

We will be thinking of you and hope everything is ok. Keep us posted, here if you need us.

Love Dave & Sue
xx

Thanks guys

Hope all will be OK for you Liz will be thinking of you

Love Mum
x

Right on the money Vinod.Trauma caused by chewing on the gum,which he says is very inflammed and may have some infection.Congratulated me on haveing such a diligent dentist and just asked me to get regular checkups to keep and eye on it in the future.No biopsy necessary at the moment.PHEWWWWW.

Sunshine here i come.
Thanks for all your messages they are much appreciated.

love liz

fantastic news liz have a lovely weekend

mum xxxx

Hi Liz

Glad the news was good, enjoy the time in the sun you deserve it, look forward to hearing from you soon.

Love Dave & Sue
xx

What a relief Liz. Thank goodness. I wasn't online at all yesterday so have just read your original post and that meant I only had to hold my breath for one page!!
Love
Deborah

Thanks deb

Robins brother set off for Australia this morning.Like me he couldnt bear christmas in the uk so he is out for a month moving about all over the plae.
I am enthralled with series seven of Macleods daughters at the moment but was devestated to read it had been axed after the next series.What will i do lol.
Hope you enjoy the holidays

love liz

Dear Liz,
Who wants a wet xmas and new year - Robins idea was great to beat the cold and I am not feeling too bad either as I am missing out on the Delhi cold which is a cold that bites into you. Though its chilly here, I can still manage with T's and track pants and running shoes.

The news what has made me really happy is you - I am so glad that everything is fine with you and I know it will always be so. Dont ever worry as you have a hoard of well wishers from all over the world - let them do the worrying!!.
Tons of love, extra special kisses and hugs and a garden full of roses ( if I could send them across!!).
Ananth

Dear Dave and Sue,
No new from your end for some time. Do give us the rundown to how the job is getting along, how you are feeling, which car have you finally decided upon and everything else that we (I) am really curious to read about youll.
Tons of love,xxx and hugs for Sue - you just get the love and hugs,
Ananth

Hi Liz
I was thinking of you when it was announced that McLeods Daughters was being axed. I was also heading up into the Barossa Valley the other week and driving past the homestead I remembered how you asked if it was really so green. Believe me it isnt' at present. Everything looks so sad. This is a bad time of year anyway because harvest is complete so what has been lush and green for months is now brown and horrid looking. The drought has also taken it's toll on the landscape.
Is Robin's brother coming to South Australia? Are you in touch with him? If so, let us know and we might be able to show him a few of the local spots. That would be great.
We aren't going anywhere over the holidays. Our son is coming home for a week from Queensland, my neice who is a teacher in a remote Aboriginal settlement in western Northern Territory will be here, my Dad, brother and our other two boys and their girls and our daughter. With a bit of luck my sister and brother in law will make it over from Victoria as well. My b-inlaw is elderly and not doing so well so everything depends on how Bob is travelling. We will have a Christmas breakfast so everyone is free to go their separate ways during the day ~ all very nice.
When do you head off to (was it Dubai?)?
Don't forget to let us know about your brother in law.
Love
Deborah
ox