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Mouth symptoms

Sairbear10
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I've recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer and am awaiting surgery, unfortunately I have noticed some mouth symptoms and been referred by my GP on the 2 week pathway as I believed the ulcer/spot near my tonsils had been there for 6months or so. Upon checking some old photos from having sore throats/colds I found that I have had this ulcer for around 5 years, I also have a pale tongue which my gp prescribed thrush gel for (I'm not sure it's thrush, 2 days and im not seeing or feeling improvement), an inflamed area between my top front teeth, a burning tongue and last night after brushing it some light pink blood, also inflamed tongue bumps.  I've recently also had a lingering sinus infections that's just about cleared, but did have some blood tinged mucus (unless it was mouth bleeding), there is also some neck discomfort and a feeling of a lump when I swallow, possibly an enlarged node, they've all been up on that side but mostly gone down now. Also the possibility of an ulcer at the back side of my tongue but the GP said they thought I'd bitten it. 
 

I have terrible anxiety that I've had this for so long and it's going to be something really nasty on top of what im already dealing with. What are your experiences? I went to Dr Google and am now completely terrified 

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    Hi,

    I'll start off by stating i worked in a dental environment for years, but i wasn't a dentist. None of this is medical advice, and you have done the correct thing seeing about this.

    To put you at ease, the mouth contains fast growing cells. It's why the effects of chemo are very common in the mouth because most chemos work on fast growing cells. It's also why the golden rule with the oral cavity is leave it two weeks, and if there's no improvement, you go to a dentist/gp pronto. Any non healing ulcer, white/red patches, lumps, bumps, lesions etc have to be assessed properly. All things oral tend to heal within 2 weeks.

    So the fact you have had whatever it is for "years", i highly doubt it's anything sinister. Oral cancers are very fast growing due to the cells in your mouth.

    About the burning, it can be many things, usually all benign. There literally is a condition called "burning mouth syndrome" which can be unpleasant.

    Some immune conditions can manifest in the mouth too. Things like Crohn's for example, many people associate that with the bowels. It can affect the entire GI tract. Your GI tract begins at the opening of your mouth, and ends at the anus.

    But to repeat, if you have had this for years, it won't be untreated oral cancer. Could be numerous things.

    I would change your toothbrush to a soft bristle one and see if that helps any.

  • Offline in reply to ProfBaw

    Thanks so much for your reply.

    I first photographed the "ulcer" if that's what it is in 2018, I'd just had a baby who was poorly so completely forgot, it's still there. I believe the pale/white tongue came later but I think I've still had this for a few years, the pain I can only remember noticing during or after a viral infection late last year. Nothing was picked up by my dentist when I last visited in March 2022, or any any other point. I moved area and am still struggling to get in with a dentist unfortunately.  I also have a hoarse voice, on and off I think, but put it down to post nasal drip with repeated sinus infections. 

    I am grateful to have been referred, hopefully not too long to wait 

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