Hi Aaron.

You have every right to ask your question here.  No need to feel shy.  No one is offended.

I think the next thing I should say is DON'T PANIC. 

Lymph nodes pop up and go down all the time in response to infections.  Often the only clue that you have an infection is a lymph node popping up.  There's no reason to assume that the lymph nodes you mention are associated with the mouth lump, particular due to the time lapse.

Regarding the lump, there are a number of possible reasons for this, but it's going to take a specialist to get a diagnosis.  The inability of the dentist to identify it doesn't make cancer more likely.  Mouth cancer is unlikely for someone of your age so try not to worry  (easy for me to say, I know).   If you can't get an early appointment with a specialist, go to your GP and ask whether there's a hospital with a shorter waiting time.

Finally, don't try Googling your symptoms.  It inevitably leads you to a worst-case scenario, and we've all frightened ourselves silly in this way at some time.

Please keep us posted with your situation.  Your feedback enables us to improve our answers for the next person who has a similar question.

Thank you ever so much for your reply. I admire what you've been through and the help you continuously give to others.

Here's a snippet of my current fragile mental state. I phoned the doctors yesterday and spoke to him explaining how much I'm struggling to cope... he prescribed me something and I've got to phone back in 4 weeks.

My wife is very worried about me so she phoned the dentist explaining the situation and could it be marked as urgent... they did that and now I have the referral form here headed as "urgent 2 week referral for oral/facial cancer".

I've already booked a private consultation with a specialist for tomorrow as I'm struggling that much.

£180 for a consultation but I don't earn much so it's a one-off... I'm pretty sure they'll just refer me for a biopsy then it gets real I guess. Then I'll have to wait for nhs.

On the referral form which is hard to read with handwriting ect... says I present with 2 polyp type lumps (I can only feel one so that's not great), 2mm in appearance, circular, bi lateral to midline, no induration so moveable (I think that's what it says but I have no idea) and no ulceration.

I'm struggling to understand any of this so any help would be amazing.

Update for anyone with similar issues.

8 days after presentation I saw privately a consultant who was amazing... questioned my dentist for not reassuring me and give me a thorough examination.

Said it was all normal anatomy for me and give me advice about heath anxiety.

I do recommend having a private consultation for any lumps in the mouth as an Maxillofacial surgeon will know more than a GP or dentist. 
X

That's great news.  What are you going to do about the NHS appointment when it comes through?

Hi,

I do feel like such a fraud, hedging my bets though but I will cancel my NHS appt tho.

Thank you for your advice, as I took comfort in that.

Just want people to know that if you do find small, hard lumps under your tongue there's a good chance that they're normal anatomy.

If in doubt, get it checked, but make sure you get your GP, dentist or Maxillofacial surgeon to do a comprehensive examination.

You have absolutely no reason to feel guilty or to feel that you're a fraud. 

You have behaved 100% responsibly through all of this trying time, and by spending your own money for a private consultation you've saved the NHS time and money.

You've been through a trying time, but like 9 out of 10 people in a similar situation, you've had a false alarm.  Unfortunately, false alarms are the price we all pay so that hospitals can catch many cancers while they're small and easily treatable.  I can't see any way around this.