I am extremely concerned that my wife may have the symptoms associated with mouth cancer and would appreciate some advice.

About 3-4 months ago my wife started having persistent trouble with her throat - a tickly cough and she had developed a """squeak""" that she'd never had before. She didn't pay too much attention to this, but just over a week ago she noticed some white patches on the insides of her cheeks and her doctor thought it may be Candidiasis. She took a course of chewing tablets but it hasn't cleared it up and the doctor now thinks it's more likely Lichen Planus and has referred her for a biopsy. A few days ago she noticed some white lumpy bits at the back of her throat (at the sides where the tongue meets her throat) and now more white patches on the roof of her mouth. Our worry is that whatever was affecting her throat may have spread to her mouth. Having read that Lichen Planus is an early indicator of mouth cancer, we are panicking that if it is oral cancer, we may be identifying it a little late.

Could someone give us guidance as to:
- are we getting prematurely worried?
- what are the chances this may be oral cancer?
- is it likely to have been affecting her throat?
- are we treating it too late in the day?
- should she wait for the letter from the hospital or go private (we don't have medical insurance)?

We are new to all this and know very little about it, so are panicking a bit haven read a little about oral cancer. Thanks for any help!

Hello Nick T

Oral Lichen Planus OLP is a common noninfectious oral mucosal disorder among adult patients who are examined at oral pathology and oral medicine clinics. Sometimes it can affect the throat too. It affects approximately 1-2% of the general adult population. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) developed in fewer than 5% of patients with OLP who did not use tobacco. So the risk is very small.

The biopsy will confirm the diagnosis. Your wife should see an ENT specialist who should have a look down her throat to investigate the cause of the 'tickly cough' and 'squeak'.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

Thank you, that's reassuring and very helpful. Sadly my wife is a smoker so I guess that may increase the risks. Whatever happens I think this scare will prompt her to quit smoking.