Hi Terryg

I can understand why you have found yourself posting here. I was diagnosed with oral cancer myself.

Dentists are best placed and trained to identify abnormalities in the oral area.

Very often a sore or raised area on the tongue is caused by rubbing on a rough area of a tooth,and it goes unoticed due to little or no symptoms. Sometimes the way you chew food can cause it too.

You did not mention any follow up ie: dentist wants to see you in 3mth or 6mth. If he did not specify that then I think he is not overly concerned.

Had he been concerned he would have told you he was referring you on to ENT or maxilofacial dept of your hospital for further investigation.

I can really understand your concern after losing a friend to this cancer,it will be very much on your mind being so recent too.

Of course it will do no harm to see your dentist again,may put your mind at rest at least.

Keeping an eye on it for any changes like getting bigger or bleeding, pain, numbness etc is all you can do in the meantime. But try not to worry constantly about it.

Your salivary gland removal in 1980 was it benign? If you dont mind me asking.

Best wishes & regards x

hi um I am a bit worried because I’m 14 and I I have a lump and my right side of my  tongue  And it is painful and red is this what you have? 

Hi. Sorry I can’t say much. You best go see your dentist or doctor. My dentist is keeping lookout for mine. That’s all I can say. Hope it is nothing bad .

take care

Thank yo7 Clara. Yes my dentist is keeping an eye on it. He says it’s there. But I can’t see it. But will see how things go. 

Hello, how are you? Any update?

Hi This morning when I got up I noticed a lump on my right side of my tongue it's a size of a pee, what do I do is it a cancer lump, I will go and see my GP but I don't know if he will see me or not, worried and if it is not cancer will it go away or not???

Hi

As you have found yourself on here you are obviously worried.

Like I have written previously, your dentist is a good place to start they are very well trained to examine the whole oral area for any thing out of the ordinary.

The rule of thumb is any lump or sore not healing in 2/3 weeks best get it checked out.

As you only noticed it this morning is it possible you may have bitten the area in your sleep? If so it may well settle down.

It goes without saying that nobody on here can say whether something is suspicious of cancer or not,only getting seen by dentist or Drs can do that.

What Im trying to say is dont jump the gun and worry yourself sick,stay off google and be aware that cancer of the tongue is quite rare whereas there are 100s of benign oral conditions.

You maybe find it quicker or easier to go the dentist route rather than GP at present.

Best luck and wishes to you PS: We are always here if you need a chat. xx

Hi all

I am not a doctor and I have no medical qualifications.

A sudden lump on the tongue that pops up out of nowhere (or due to some irritation) is most likely to be an aphthous ulcer, sometimes called just a mouth ulcer, or in the US, a canker sore.

They can occur anywhere inside the mouth, with the tongue, cheeks and lips being common sites. They can be very painful but they're harmless, and they should disappear within 10 days. 

Any pharmacist will be able to sell you a treatment gel that should reduce the pain.  Make sure any gel you buy contains a local anaesthetic.  I also find the mouthwash Oraldene very effective when used in addition to the gel.  Incidentally, don't be shy about asking a pharmacist for advice - they will tell you if you need to see a doctor or dentist.

The advice from my dentist is that any mouth sore should heal up within 4 weeks.  If it doesn't then see your dentist for advice.