Comment from: aud123, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: August 17
Months ago I was noticing a white patch on my tongue. Being too busy I dismissed it as something my inhalers did from asthma. When my tongue started to feel irritated I went to an ENT Doctor (ear, nose and throat). I was pawned off to her assistant who treated me for thrush for a month. Finally, I insisted on seeing the actual doctor who upon first sight of my tongue suggested a biopsy from a good hospital. I called the hospital and couldn't get an appointment for a month. Finally, two days after a painful biopsy I was told I had squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) in my mouth. I'm looking at losing close to half my tongue to surgery because I had bad medical treatment. Let's face it. The earlier you catch cancer the better the outcome will be. Needless to say if you look in your mouth and your tongue looks questionable go to an oral surgeon and have a biopsy ASAP. Good Health to all.
Comment from: delia5165, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: June 22
At age 35, I was diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer. I was very lucky to have a team of outstanding doctors. When I was 32, I went to see an oral surgeon, and he just brushed me off saying it was a reaction to nicotine. Being young and trusting, I just let it go at that. Well needless to say it was cancer! From that day on my life has changed, the quality of life is terrible, I had a good job that I was unable to do anymore -- I was a 411 operator. It is difficult to eat, talk -- the little things we take for granted became a challenge. Please if you have a sore or white or red patches in your mouth demand a biopsy. I didn't, and underwent an 18-hour surgery in which they had to remove almost half of my tongue and the floor of my mouth, I was cut open from the middle of my bottom lip down my neck and across my neck to the back of my ear. I had more than 1,500 stitches. I had reconstruction, but as I said before, the little things like eating and speaking are a challenge and very painful. A lot of these doctors are in it for the money and yes money is important but more important than that is to find a doctor that cares about their patients and not just the paycheck. If you die, they still get paid! Well, August will be 10 years that I am cancer-free, so I am one of the lucky ones.
Comment from: 19-24 Female (Patient)Published: October 07
I have a very frequent sore throat. Almost once every month. I have been smoking for 7 years and it has been 2 years since I started to have sore throat symtoms. I will have phlem, green maybe with little blood while having pain, or yellow, and tend to have phlem irritation even when my throat is no longer in pain. This time, the sore throat came back, and I finished the antibotics but my throat is still very sore. I have seen a specialist before but my sore throat will always come back.
Comment from: edthecat, 45-54 (Patient)Published: November 17
I have had pain on the top of my tongue at the back and it has lasted for about 5 months. There is an area that looks like a growth and it is about 3/4 " x 1/4" in size. The pain spreads to other parts of the tongue sometimes.
Comment from: 45-54 Female (Caregiver)Published: December 17
Please don't take this form of cancer lightly. The minute it is a stage one it is time for aggressive treatment chemo, radiation. Second opinions are critical to make sure you are in the right place. My sister had several laser treatments, etc. and an operation on her tongue. It wasn't until it hit her lymph node (stage 3) that she had the surgery, chemo and radiation. By then it was too late and it spread everywhere. Oral cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers.
Comment from: jujubee0523, Female (Patient)Published: June 08
I have not seen a dentist yet, but have had throat and nose issues with a long black lesion in the back part of the gum. I wear dentures and it has been there for over 2 years. I thought it was just black and blue. It is not the case.
Comment from: rose, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: June 04
Two weeks ago I had surgery the doctor removed an ulcer on my vocal box, since then I have this burning feeling on my tongue and the roof of my mouth and my tongue is cracking and a brown spot on my tongue. What's going on thank you.
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There are a variety of diseases and conditions that can cause tongue problems, discoloration, and soreness. Though most tongue problems are not serious. Conditions such as leukoplakia, oral thrush, and oral lichen planus may cause a white tongue while Kawasaki syndrome, scarlet fever, and geographic tongue may cause the tongue to appear red. A black hairy tongue may be caused by overgrown papillae on the tongue. Canker sores, smoking, and trauma may cause soreness of the tongue.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
The HPV virus (genital warts) in men can cause health problems. Genital warts are confined primarily to the moist skin of the genitals or around the anus. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are transmitted through sexual contact.
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. These cancers account for 3% to 5% of cancers in the U.S. Tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Leukoplakia is a white or gray patch that develops on the tongue or inside the cheek. Causes of Leukoplakia may include irritation from rough teeth fillings or crowns, chronic smoking, sun exposure to the lips, or HIV or AIDS.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
"Toothache" usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws primarily as a result of a dental condition. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root,
or gum disease. However, disorders of the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint) can also cause pain that is referred to as "toothache." The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by cold or heat. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem and the cause.
Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart (such as angina or heart attack), ears (such as inner or external ear infections), and sinuses (air passages of the cheekb...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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Months ago I was noticing a white patch on my tongue. Being too busy I dismissed it as something my inhalers did from asthma. When my tongue started to feel irritated I went to an ENT Doctor (ear, nose and throat). I was pawned off to her assistant who treated me for thrush for a month. Finally, I insisted on seeing the actual doctor who upon first sight of my tongue suggested a biopsy from a good hospital. I called the hospital and couldn't get an appointment for a month. Finally, two days after a painful biopsy I was told I had squamous cell carcinoma (cancer) in my mouth. I'm looking at losing close to half my tongue to surgery because I had bad medical treatment. Let's face it. The earlier you catch cancer the better the outcome will be. Needless to say if you look in your mouth and your tongue looks questionable go to an oral surgeon and have a biopsy ASAP. Good Health to all.
Related Reading: asthma | thrush | cancer