I have a samll lump on the floor of my mouth under the tongue. It is red, and irritated- mostly becasue I keep touching it and moving it with my tongue. It just appeared 4 days ago. It seemed to go away- then cam back today. What could this be? I am worried about cancer since I just my brother-in-law was just diagnosed with oral cancer. Any information or advice is appreciated.

Hi Mommy

You're NOT going to like this, but PLEASE go to your dentist or your family doctor to get it checked out ASAP!

Four months passed from when I first noticed the sore under my tongue until I sought medical attention and ended up with half my tongue removed and rebuilt from my arm.

I know you're scared, but PLEASE get checked out. It might be nothing, but knowing is better than not knowing.


Julia

Thanks for your relpy Julia. I am going to call my dentist on Monday. I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you. I am a speech therapist and have worked with patients who had part of their tongue removed. I guess that knowledge is part of what scares me more. What is weird about mine is that is goes away (amlost completely), and then it is back the next day. What was the your lump like? Thanks again!

Hi Mommy

By the time I had surgery, my tumor was 2.9 cm--the best way I can describe it is as a pinkie finger shoved into my tongue. I'm sure that I had halitosis that could have peeled paint.

The reason I waited so long to get medical attention was a mix of fear and economics (I was a between-assignments temp and uninsured). But I really lucked out: I was T2 N0M0, and didn't need anything other than surgery, not even speech therapy. My doctor did order one session for me, but when I showed up at the appointment, the speech therapy asked me why I was there. She'd already evaluated me and decided I didn't need her services.

I had a follow up appointment on 2/6 (two days after Flappy's birthday--yes, I've named my flap). I'm used to being shown off by my doctor, but this time, I was show and tell for the speech therapist who wanted a new student in the program to hear me talk. Everyone is pleased and surprised at how I sound (a very slight lisp when I'm really tired, and occasional tongue cramps caused by muscle fatigue) despite the degree of reconstruction I had. The left side of my tongue from the first molar to the tip, along with the floor of my mouth on that side, and part of the lingual frenulum were removed and replaced using a piece of my right forearm. The doctors also did a modified neck dissection, taking 50 lymph nodes (all were cancer free), put in an NG tube, and I had a trach for about a month. I also caught a cold while I was trached. Eeew! Sneezing through a hole in your neck is not a pleasant experience.

Please let me know how things turn out. How is your brother-in-law?

Wow- sounds like you have done great! I know it is hard-but you ARE lucky. My brother in law is OK so far. He just started chemo and radiation this week. I pray it all turns out ok for him. As for me- the lump is gone again today. If it comes back- I am going to try to get in to the DR the same day. I am wondering if it was just a blocked gland or something. Thank you for your time and support! Good luck to you!