I have not been diagnosed with cancer but a month ago i noticed raised white lines down each side of my tongue and inside both cheeks. I spoke to a GP at my surgery over the phone who recommended going in to see my own GP so he could take a look. He also told me i should be referred to ENT clinic for further tests and a poss biopsy. I also had blood taken day after this call and found my white cell count was higher than it should be and folate lower than it should be.
I saw my own GP who did take a look, gave no indication at all at what he thought and just recommended i take folic acid for the low folate levels! Not helpful and im not even convinced that the referral has been made! He was quite dismissive.
After also having back pain between my shoulder blades each morning after being in bed which can last from a couple hrs to all day (previous to these white areas appearing), feeling nauseous, fatigue, chest pain and shortness breath. I am imagining the worst and I am scared. There is a family history of cancer on maternal and paternal side. I am nearly 35. I also have MS. I’m querying mouth and lung cancer.
With my GP being so dismissive what are my other options for help? Am i right to be worried? I just want some honesty and something done. Further tests, anything. I am a tough cookie but i like to know what i’m dealing with rather than sit worrying.
Please HELP!
Thank you
Hi and welcome to the online community
I'm sorry to read how worried you are that you might have mouth or lung cancer. You did the right thing in going to see your GP about your symptoms and I'm sorry to hear that you felt the GP was dismissive about your concerns.
As you've said that you're not sure if you have been referred to ENT, you could give your GP practice a call tomorrow and ask if you have been referred and, if you have, how long the wait to be seen might be. If your GP suspected cancer then you should be seen within 2 weeks but if he didn't suspect cancer but still wants ENT to investigate further then the wait could be a lot longer.
If you haven't been referred to ENT then perhaps you could make another appointment to see your GP and mention the pain in your shoulder, shortness of breath, etc than you're now experiencing.
Do come back and let me know how you get on when you speak to the practice.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
If you're still worried then you need to find out if the referral has been made to ENT by giving your practice a call in the morning. If it hasn't then it would be a good idea to make another appointment to see your GP. If you don't feel comfortable seeing the same GP again is there another one in your practice that you could see?
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Let me know how you get on 
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Justjax
i agree with Latchbrook that you should just press your practice for confirmation and if a referral hasn’t been made then press for that.
Im not suggesting that there is anything wrong but as far as cancer is concerned we have to be proactive.
I presented to my GP with my own diagnosis. He was the first to admit that he couldn’t see anything abnormal but acknowledged co-professional etiquette ( I’m a veterinary surgeon) and referred me straight away.
Meanwhile have you a dentist that can look at you? They are trained to spot mouth cancer. He/she might be able to put your mind at rest while you wait for your hospital appointment
All the best in getting to the bottom of it
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
