Please help, I really need some reassurance about oral cancer. I have been battling with a dental abcess on one of my front teeth now for some years now - the tooth has been root filled, I have been to hospital to have the abcess surgically removed, it has been treated with antibiotics on more occasions than I can remember, the tooth has now been removed and has now been replaced by an artificial one. I have a large lump on the top of my gum which the surgeon and dentist advised me was just the bone which had been displaced by the abcess. The thing still flares up from time to time, usually when I am run down or ill, there is no pain as there are no nerves left there, it just appears as a feeling of fullness.
I have been reading about oral cancer and it has scared the living daylights out of me, particularly the part which says it can rarely be caused by constant irritation. I am terrified because I have battled this thing for so long that I am certain I am the perfect candidate for this disease.
I am considering going back to the surgeon and asking for the bony lump to be completely removed and surrounding tissues to be removed to minimize the risk - is this a good idea. I know its difficult to say but what are my chances of developing cancer? The thing only flares up occasionally now, but im terrified to the point of not being able to eat or sleep. Please help

Hello taz, Welcome to the message board. I have read your post and, until Dr Joshi gives you his opinion, all I can say to you is please try to stop worrying (not easy I know!) In most cases of mouth cancer it is the Dentist who first sees something unusual and refers the patient to an ENT clinic or similar. You have been seen by both a Dentist and an 'oral' surgeon and neither have been concerned that what you have is anything to worry about. If you feel the lump is an irritation then perhaps you should ask for it to be removed and tell them your fears, when hopefully they can put your mind at rest. Sorry I can't be more help! Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. Regards Brenda.

Thanks Brenda for taking the time to post. I'm desperately trying to stop worrying - althou as you rightly say it isnt easy!! Thanks for your good wishes

Ok being a total hypochondriac I examined my mouth thoroughly and found a small white spot on the gum between my two front teeth, alongside the tooth which was abcessed - needless to say Im now completely terrified...

Hello Taz

A small white spot between your two front teeth is unlikely to be a mouth cancer. It is more likely to be the point of an abcess or a spicule of bone exfoliating through the gum (since there has been a history of recurrent infection). You need to see your dentist about it. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks Dr Joshi for giving up your time to answer this- especially on a Sunday night, I really appreciate your kindness

Thanks for your advice and reassurance, I will see my dentist ASAP

Thanks again and Ill let you all know how i get on

Well there's a happy ending to the story. I visited my dentist and he xrayed the spot and said it was indeed just the tip of an infection and gave my antibiotics.

I have however learned my lesson about taking care of my teeth and gums and will be more careful in the future

Thanks again

Hi!
Im really scared because ihave a couple of ulcers on the roof of my mouth.I also feel a kind of swelling/growth uniformly under the skin of my hard palate.
The ulcers are painless and have been there for 4 months….
There are two symmetrical little bumps on the inside of both my cheeks .Again,painless.

Please help me cause im really scared.
I hope its not cancer.

Hello Yellow

You can't make a diagnosis over the internet! The swelling in the hard palate could be a palate torus while the bumps in the cheeks could be the openings of the ducts of the parotid salvary glands. These are normal structures. Hope that helps you but you need to see your doctor or dentist for an opinion.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi, I am a 21 year old male, that smokes upto 10 a day and likes a drink. I have noticed a small swelling in the roof of my mouth and am worried also. About a month and a half ago I was in bed about to sleep when my mouth filled up with a small amount of liquid that tasted bad. This has happened again before this. Could this be a form of cancer? The lump is on the right side of my mouth near to my back teeth. It is smooth and doesnt seem to have a particular higher point, just a kind of swelling. I intend to go to a doctor ASAP but would really like any evaluation. Many thanks

Good Afternoon Germain,
I am neither a doctor nor a dentist but I am a mouth cancer patient so I know about the problems from the "inside".
The fluid you speak of doesn't sound like a cancer problem,so I think you can give up worrying,but it does need seeing to ,and any lumps and changes in the mouth which don't clear up in three weeks should be investigated by a dentist/doctor.These problems are much easier to deal with when treatment is started early so when you say ASAP do the smart thing & make that tomorrow morning! Regarding the smoking,I'm not going to preach to you because I am sure you know what you should do.It is not worth the risk and think of the satisfaction of paying less to Gordon Brown by giving up.
Please let us know how you get on at the doctor's.
Keep Smiling
John

Thank you so much John. That makes me feel better! I think it possibly could be an abcess but am checking all possibilities. And if anyone else has any more help - please let me know. I really am going to try and quit the smoking - obvious reasons. Also, by the lump there is a small red spot. Only about the size of a pin head - any ideas anyone?

Made my appointment for Thursday afternoon (earliest available).
Thanks again.

Hello Germain

My guess is that it is an abcess that burst and the red spot is the sinus orifice through which it discharged. My advice is for you to see your dentist for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thankyou for your help. And I hope everything is ok for John. Would this mean that the burst is the cause of the lump?