braginskaya
21-06-17, 20:09
So yesterday I'd read an article which mentioned oral cancer (triggering, I know, I'm an idiot), and as I was absentmindedly moving my tongue around my mouth to see if I could feel anything I came across a pea-sized lump underneath my bottom lip, near where the gums start. It feels firm but moveable, and doesn't hurt even when you press on it. I've always had rough, bumpy skin on the inside of my lips and cheeks as I have a nervous habit of biting and chewing the skin there, so I'm wondering if it's scar tissue - but I've never felt a lump like this before! I don't know how long I've had it as I've only just discovered it, I don't know whether I've always had it and only started worrying now because of my anxiety but I don't know how I could have missed it before.
Demographically I should be at a low risk of developing mouth cancer. I'm only 21, I've never smoked in my life, I don't drink alcohol that often (once or twice a week at most, sometimes not at all for a month or two), I've never had oral sex, I was given the HPV vaccine as a teenager (although to prevent cervical cancer, not mouth), and have no family history of the illness that I'm aware of -- and yet I'm still worried sick. My biggest fear is that it could have spread from another undiagnosed cancer I might not have noticed. I'm too scared to even see a medical professional for fear of being told the worst and I don't know what to do. :(
Demographically I should be at a low risk of developing mouth cancer. I'm only 21, I've never smoked in my life, I don't drink alcohol that often (once or twice a week at most, sometimes not at all for a month or two), I've never had oral sex, I was given the HPV vaccine as a teenager (although to prevent cervical cancer, not mouth), and have no family history of the illness that I'm aware of -- and yet I'm still worried sick. My biggest fear is that it could have spread from another undiagnosed cancer I might not have noticed. I'm too scared to even see a medical professional for fear of being told the worst and I don't know what to do. :(