Canker sore keeps coming back (oral cancer fear)

[itiswhatitis]

For many weeks now (maybe about 6) I've had a canker sore that comes and goes every few days (like.. it gets big for a few days, then goes down a bit but always gets big again.

I'm getting ongoing dental treatment (removals and fillings because of poor dental health I guess - just a lot of decay and years of not brushing properly) I showed my dentist when I saw him the other week but then it was in its "small" phase and he said it looked like I bit my lip maybe. This week it got kind of big again and the most painful it's been. (It's on my inner lower lip)

My main worry is oral cancer.. I'm so worried about it even though my dentist quite often has been looking in my mouth over the last few months.. he would know if there was cancer, right? I'm so worried he missed something or he's focused on the removals and fillings and isn't paying attention to other stuff..
Could the canker sore be caused maybe by my toothbrush? My gums often bleed when I brush because of all the years I didn't do it properly/often. Also I have a tooth with some decay which is right in front of where the sore is.. it's on my inner lip and it's one of my teeth that my lip "rests" on.

Sorry this is so long.. I'm just very nervous about it and having a hard time just not calling my dentist right now and asking him to look again.. but I'm seeing him in a couple weeks I need to wait..

[Fishmanpa]

This has been a fear of yours (https://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=192048) for some time.

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It doesn't come and go nor does it stop once it starts.

Positive thoughts

[itiswhatitis]

This has been a fear of yours (https://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=192048) for some time.

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It doesn't come and go nor does it stop once it starts.

Positive thoughts

You're right. Sorry to always go on about this :weep: It's just been especially hard with this recurring ulcer.

---------- Post added at 22:40 ---------- Previous post was at 22:38 ----------


This has been a fear of yours (https://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=192048) for some time.

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. It doesn't come and go nor does it stop once it starts.

Positive thoughts

I've been getting things fixed since my first post. I've had most of the bad teeth removed and I stopped smoking last year (I've had one or two hiccups but been mostly ok)
I'm going to see the dentist again in a couple of weeks for my last extraction.

[Fishmanpa]

You're right. Sorry to always go on about this :weep: It's just been especially hard with this recurring ulcer.

I've been getting things fixed since my first post. I've had most of the bad teeth removed and I stopped smoking last year (I've had one or two hiccups but been mostly ok) I'm going to see the dentist again in a couple of weeks for my last extraction.

That's a positive! :yesyes: Now.... get some real life help for your anxiety and you'll really make progress in putting the dragon back in his cave!

Positive thoughts

[itiswhatitis]

So I saw my dentist last week and had him check it, he wanted a second opinion from his colleague but his colleague wasn't available, I specifically asked him about cancer and he said he didn't think so and maybe it was a salivary gland. The next day I went to the doctor for a second opinion and he too said it didn't seem to be something to worry about. They both suggested I could get it removed if it is bothering me.

It's put my mind at ease mostly but I started feeling a little nervous today. They would have noticed if it was cancerous, right?
It's still there today but feels kind of different, more flat? I don't really know how to explain it. It kind of weirdly feels how a zit would feel now, lol.

I'm going back to my dentist either if they get a cancellation or January, whichever comes first.

[Fishmanpa]

They would have noticed if it was cancerous, right?

Two professional medical opinions. What is the answer?

Positive thoughts

[itiswhatitis]

I have posted about this fear before, but it's giving me a hard time right now so I needed to at least get my fear out.

A few months ago I got a large ulcer on my lower lip (inside) and it stayed for maybe about 2 months. I've been getting work from my dentist over months also so he did check it. He's refered me to the maxillofacial clinic who will inspect it further but he said he wasn't personally worried. Also it's gonna take a few months for me to get that appointment.

I got some fillings on my lower teeth and within that week, the ulcer went down to the point where I can't feel it anymore, that was a few weeks ago. I started obsessively checking again the last few days and noticed I still have a mark there where it was? Looks like an ulcer a little bit still, but flat I guess. It often feels "stingy" but I don't know if it's because I'm always obsessing about it.
Also, on the other side of my lip, I noticed while I was checking three very small red dots. They're not raised but they're making me nervous.
Any reasurrance while I wait for the maxillofacial appointment?

[nomorepanic]

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

[Double_Rainbow]

I have posted about this fear before, but it's giving me a hard time right now so I needed to at least get my fear out.

A few months ago I got a large ulcer on my lower lip (inside) and it stayed for maybe about 2 months. I've been getting work from my dentist over months also so he did check it. He's refered me to the maxillofacial clinic who will inspect it further but he said he wasn't personally worried. Also it's gonna take a few months for me to get that appointment.

I got some fillings on my lower teeth and within that week, the ulcer went down to the point where I can't feel it anymore, that was a few weeks ago. I started obsessively checking again the last few days and noticed I still have a mark there where it was? Looks like an ulcer a little bit still, but flat I guess. It often feels "stingy" but I don't know if it's because I'm always obsessing about it.
Also, on the other side of my lip, I noticed while I was checking three very small red dots. They're not raised but they're making me nervous.
Any reasurrance while I wait for the maxillofacial appointment?

Have you been evaluated for oral lichen planus? I too thought that I had oral cancer and it turned out to be oral lichen planus. Especially that oral lichen planus can sometimes be linked to bad fillings and such. And it can come and go, grow big and then grow small, and repeat. Although two dentists saw you, I want to hope that they would have recognized lichen planus. To be fair though, they also would have recognized cancer. So if they aren't sure that's not the bad sign necessarily.

---------- Post added at 21:46 ---------- Previous post was at 21:42 ----------

Since it went down right after the new fillings were done, this could be a simple gingival irritation from previous fillings or crowns or whatever you had.

[itiswhatitis]

Have you been evaluated for oral lichen planus? I too thought that I had oral cancer and it turned out to be oral lichen planus. Especially that oral lichen planus can sometimes be linked to bad fillings and such. And it can come and go, grow big and then grow small, and repeat. Although two dentists saw you, I want to hope that they would have recognized lichen planus. To be fair though, they also would have recognized cancer. So if they aren't sure that's not the bad sign necessarily.

---------- Post added at 21:46 ---------- Previous post was at 21:42 ----------

Since it went down right after the new fillings were done, this could be a simple gingival irritation from previous fillings or crowns or whatever you had.


I never had a filling there before, but I did have decay on the tooth that that area of gum rubbed against. I'll look into oral lichen planus and suggest it next time I see my dentist or when I see the specialist. Thank you for suggesting it and helping reassure me.

[Worrywart84]

That’s very similar to my story—I have a red gash on my gums and my dentist initially said he thought it was irritation but when it didn’t go away he referred me to a specialist oral surgeon and said maybe it was an autoimmune thing and the specialist would know for sure. When I went to see the specialist he assured me up and down that it wasn’t cancer and said it was likely Oral Lichen Planus, the autoimmune disorder my dentist suspected.

[Eliza@Brown]

Is it possible to remove oral cancer, if it's on 1st stage?

[Fishmanpa]

Is it possible to remove oral cancer, if it's on 1st stage?

I'm a Stage IVa Head and neck cancer survivor so yes.

Positive thoughts

[Eliza@Brown]

I'm a Stage IVa Head and neck cancer survivor so yes.

Positive thoughts

Yeah thats true! Positive thoughts bring positivity to you.

In this stage, do patients have to stay under observation at hospital? Is it necessary?

[Fishmanpa]

Yeah thats true! Positive thoughts bring positivity to you.

In this stage, do patients have to stay under observation at hospital? Is it necessary?

Oral cancers are aggressive so no, they don't 'observe' it, its treated.

Positive thoughts