Hey all!

i have had a teeny lump which is a fairly hard flesh-colored lump in the back of my mouth on the inside of my cheek (directly across from where my wisdom teeth used to be). I have had this now for about a year and a half. i did have a dentist look at it once, but he couldn't even find it (although i'm not so sure he looked that hard... i had him do an oral cancer check since i was a smokeless tobacco user for about 12 years). i have had a similar lump that is about half the size on my mandible (same side of mouth) below my molars for an even longer period (flesh colored, too). The larger lump is about a quarter the size of a BB, and is not visible unless i stretch my cheek way out.

As i stated, i was a smokeless tobacco user. i quit last year for about six months, and i just started to try and quit permanantly again (man is it hard). It's been 10 days, and all the wrinkly white leukoplakia-type stuff has disappeared (thankfully!). However, these lumps remain (it remained over the six months i quit last year, too).

i am planning on going to a G.P. to have this looked at (very soon), but i am just curious if anyone has anything to say (needless to say, i'm a little spooked).

Lastly, not to add to this post too much, but i have a very soft lump between my cheek and mandible at the very front. It is not visible unless i stretch my bottom lip way out, but the lump is not hard at all (so i'm thinking maybe it is one of those little lumps that are natural in the lip/cheek area). It is right under my right canine, and it is just on the cheek side of where the cheek and mandible join. Any tips on that one?

Sorry for such a long initial post... i'm just a bit worried. My wife and i just decided on children, and it has revolutionized my lifestyle (i want to live to see my grandkids!!!). Thus, i i'm quitting for good this time - i just hope it is *in time*.

Thanks,
Matt

Hello Grip

There is always a time when we realise that our lives are precious and it is foolish to take risks that are avoidable. Unfortunately tobacco is addictive. Here is a link to a previous post on stopping the tobacco chewing habit. Hope it helps reinforce your desire to stop.
Keep away from tobacco!

You may find the descriptions of the normal appearances in the mouth in the article Examination Technique with Normal Findings and Structures Mistaken for Disease helpful in working out what you are noticing in your mouth. Mouth cancers tend not to stay the same size for years, and your dentist would have noticed anything abnormal, so the soft lumps might just be gingival fibrous nodules as in Figure 1.55 and 1.56. Please see you dentist and seek his opinion.

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Thank you for the information! Yes, while i don't have them under my front teeth like in the picture, they do resemble smaller versions of what is in the picture.

Thank you also for the encouragement! i really do appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Yours,
the_grip

Thanks again... i went to my general practitioner, and he did see the two lumps. He was not concerned at all - he thought one looked like a salivary duct and the other is just a "bump". The salivary gland area has been there for quite some time (over a year), but the size has been the same and there is no discoloration. i have another question now but i will start a new thread.

Yours,
Matt (the_grip)