please help.....need advice.....no insurance

[anonymous726]

hello everyone I am a 27 year pack a day smoker of 14 years.. my cousin passed away from oral cancer at 35 he was also a heavy smoker...I have had these suspicious bumps in my mouth for about 3 years now there are about 3-4 on the right side located on the top of the mandibular bone then on the left side there is a single lesion located under the mandibular bone I have been to 3 dentists and 2 doctors who briefly examined it and all concluded it to be mandibular tori. However I am not so convinced here are my symptoms these bumps get bigger and smaller through out the day (i do scrape my tongue across it a lot) i notice if i eat smoke or drink anything it gets hard and bigger then smaller and softer if there is no oral activity the last dentist who examined it did a complete x ray looked at it under the light touched it and used a blue ray light and said he was not concerned... my question is for all you that have been diagnosed already is this how it starts? also any advice on if i should follow up or just accept there diagnosis or mandibular tori? thanks

[Londres70]

If 3 physicians and 3 dentists have all concurred it is MT, then I would be ok with the diagnosis of MT.  If they all had different diagnoses or two of them agreed and the other 4 didn't, etc., then that would be a different story.  

Oral surgeons see alot of malignancies, tumors, etc. so he/she usually will know quickly what he/she is dealing with.  I don't think he was being lazy.  

[anonymous726]

hello everyone i just got back from my apt with the oral surgeon I told him my concerns and expressed to them i am concerned it could be oral cancer they just looked at it under the light with the little mirror and said mandibuler tori and no need for a biopsy he did not even give me a chance or give it a thorough examination....i thought today was going to give me closure but now i dont know what to think 1.this doctor was being lazy and did not want to help me 2.he was a professional and knows what hes doing..do you guys think i should make another apt with a different oral surgeon?

[Londres70]

Yes, you do.  

[anonymous726]

oh ok sorry i am stressed out today i woke up with the right side of my chin feeling swelled up is there a lymph node on your jaw?

[Londres70]

Oh, pardon, usually Oral Cancer is abbreviated Oral CA not OC.  

[anonymous726]

not oc obsessive compulsive oral cancer is what i meant by oc

[Londres70]

Well, I would not call this OC (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder); I think these "bumps" are worrisome and irritating you causing the anxiety.  Plus, you had a family relative die from Oral CA.  

I do not know much about MT, but I thought I read somewhere they can be surgically corrected sometimes.  

[anonymous726]

hello everyone just an update i made a apt with a oral surgeon on the 2nd of August and hopefully it will give me closure either way I have been extremly anxious i cannot stop rubbing my tongue across this bump/lesion through out the day i feel at times its soft/softer and times its hard does this sound typical of oc? thanks for help again

[Londres70]

I am not going to say a plain x-ray is TOTALLY useless, but as far as screening goes usually it involves a visual assessment and cytology (viewing cells at a microscopic level after a biopsy of the tissue).

See what the Oral Surgeon thinks; could just be the Mandibular Tori.    

[anonymous726]

oh i see thanks again Londres i am just so stressed now maybe it is just mandibular tori after all.... i have my fingers crossed i am going to call to make a apt for oral surgeon...
so is the x rays and blue light they use no good for oral cancer screening?

[Londres70]

Usually, oral cancer lesions or growths are NOT going to swell up and down throughout the day.  Something is irritating these "bumps."  i.e. friction from brushing your teeth, eating/drinking and/or smoking.   I have seen patients that have had oral cancer that progressed slowly (over years), and I have seen patient that have had oral cancer progress quickly; depends on the tumor type, etc.  Oral cancer is a nasty one; I have seen some awlful disfigured faces from it.   I can understand your concern especially because you are a smoker and your cousin was a smoker and died from oral cancer.

The Oral Surgeon would be my pick to assess these bumps you have.    

Not a problem helping; I enjoy trying to helping people sort this stuff out.

Let me know how everything goes.  

  

[anonymous726]

hello again thank you! lol yes that is what i meant i did not mean any disrespect was just wondering i appreciate someone like you taking time out of your day to help those like myself! so then an oral surgeon would be the one whos expertise is with oral lesions bumps etc? so with your experience do oral cancer bumps get bigger and smakller through out the day? do they hang around for 3 years without any change in ones health or does it spread rather quickly? thanks again for your help

[Londres70]

I didn't understand "what is my relation to oral cancer?"

Are you asking me how do I know about it?  I have a background as an Oncology RN and have cared for cancer patients for the last 8 years (in the USA and Europe).  

I don't know IF you have cancer or not.  I am saying you can consult an oral surgeon for an opinion if you do not agree with the current diagnosis.   I don't know what you have.
Oral surgeons are more in tune with benign and malignant oral growths, tumors, etc.    

I DO know that smoking is probably one of the WORSE things you can do to your mouth, etc.  

[anonymous726]

thanks i do plan on it so you think i should make a apointment with the oral surgeon then? if you dont mind me asking what is your relation to oral cancer? thanks for the reply!

[Londres70]

For starts, I would reduce or ideally quit smoking.  

If you need peace of mind, you can always consult an oral surgeon to assess your mouth.  However, with no insurance......I do not know if this is doable.  I see nothing wrong with getting second, third, fourth, etc. opinions especially if you are questioning a diagnosis.