About 2 months ago I noticed a swelling on the roof of my mouth, to the left side of the ridge. It grew rapidly for a few days until it was about 1.5cm big. It then started shrinking at about the same rate until it had almost disappeared. It started swelling again in the same way and then started shrinking again in the same way. It has been going through this cycle continuously since I noticed it. I went to the doctor about it and he told me it wasn't in his area of expertise and advised me to go to the dentist. So I went to the dentist, but unfortunately it was at the time when the lump had shrunk to being very small and she didn't take me very seriously. The lump doesn't hurt at all and is reasonably soft (it changes shape for a while when you poke it with a fingernail). I am a 20 year old female who has smoked very lightly on and off for a few years. Can someone let me know if this could be cancer and if not what it could be? It has been causing me a great deal of stress and worry and after my encounters with the doctor and dentist I have been feeling very helpless.

Thank you for reading and any advice given

Hello Jazz

It doesn't sound like you are describing a cancer, especially if your dentist couldn't see anything suspicious. You might have a mucous retention cyst (mucocele) i.e. a salivary gland that leaks into the tissue to cause it to swell until it 'pops'. Superficial mucoceles are typically located in the soft palate, the retromolar region, and the posterior buccal mucosa. They represent approximately 6% of all mucoceles.

More information at this article about: Mucoceles.

Try to see your dentist when it is up and ask for a referral to the local maxillofacial unit for confirmation and management.

Hope that helps. Do stop smoking.

Best wishes
Vinod