Hi everyone,
Technically not diagnosed. But have been referred to the maxillio facial team on a 2 week wait. Really worried! This seems to be the only active uk forum I could find.
At the end of January I noticed a white patch on the inside of my cheek, assumed oral thrush from some previous medication I'd taken. Treated it twice and nothing. Made a gp appointment, he thought lekuplakia (not sure how its spelt) so advised some medicated mouthwash. Still no improvement. Now started to become red and slight sore.
I have spent the last 11 days on steriods, although no longer sore, still there. So he has referred me to the above. I have an appointment Monday.
I'm unsure what to expect, it feels like I've spent months worrying already. It's literally consuming me. I'm 32, have 3 young children.
Thankyou for reading!
Hi Bea21
It’s good that you are being seen quickly. If this is leukoplakia it has the potential to become a cancer. Your GP isn’t sure so he is sending you to Maxfac who will know. Hopefully it isn’t.
You’ll likely get a full mouth exam and a feel of your neck for any swellings. If there is something suspicious the consultant will either do a biopsy there and then or arrange for one to be done asap.
Hold onto the fact that 90% of referrals aren’t cancer.
Good luck.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi welcome to our small community group. The 2 week cancer pathway is the quickest way of being seen try not to worry easy to say I know I’ve been there. Just keep this in your mind over 90% of 2 week cancer referrals are not cancer.
Try to keep busy and keep off Dr Google you’ll scare yourself silly.
Leukoplakia maybe caused by something that’s irritating inside your mouth ,i there’s several types with one I think having a slim chance years down the line of turning into oral cancer if not treated. . I don’t know enough as my cancer was HPV tonsil cancer I do know that our nhs is in the ball and you’ll be well looked after. Good luck on Monday and come back and let us know fingers x for yiu.
Monday will soon be here. It’s better to be seen than ignore any symptoms.
Hazel
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers
Hi, thankyou for the kind words. It's so incredibly hard not to worry. I forgot to mention that my lymph nodes on my neck/jaw have been swollen on and off for a week or so now. So I think I've convinced myself that it's bad news already.
Monday can't come quick enough, but I know that's just tge start of more potential waiting.
Hi, thankyou for the lovely kind words.
I have already fell down the Google rabbit hole, as we all do at some point. I'm making myself sick with worry.
But I know in the sensible part of my brain that won't help, or change anything. Hopefully Monday brings something, it's the waiting. It almost feels like forever.
Thankyou again
Hi everyone,
So I saw the maxillo Facial team today. She said it doesn't seem like anything sinister. She thinks likely oral lichen planus. But biopsy is still needed. There was a cancellation for tomorrow but I didn't feel prepared (regretting that now) so its booked in for next week.
I know I should feel slightly relieved, but until there's a definite answer or "it's not cancer" I can't shift the worry and anxiety. I thought today might help but I still feel in limbo!
Hi Bea. The max fax consultant s do know what they are looking at m try now not to stress you've been seen you're in the system next week will soon come round. Theres not lot you can do until then. Hindsight’s wonderful you can’t do anything about not taking tomorrows appointment now just keep busy. Best wishes for next week and fingers x
Hazel
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers
Bea. I have a friend who has suffered off and on for some time. Steroids seem to do the trick. She was told that there is a form of lichen planus that results in pain and ulceration and it is this type that may turn into cancer. The painless one is usually harmless
I have a lesion just like this inside my cheek it’s never bothered me
I hope that this helps your anxiety a little.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Bea
I suffer from oral lichen planus and it took quite a while for the diagnosis as my G.P. kept on saying it was thrush although none of the treatments worked. It made my mouth so painful that I had difficulty eating. Eventually I was seen by a specialist and he prescribed Kenalog (might go under a different name in the U.K. as I live in Australia) which is a steroid ointment much thicker than a cream so it sticks onto the inside of your mouth and does not wash off with saliva. . It worked a treat and after applying it for a couple of days it really settled things down. I did ask at the time if it was pre cancerous and I was told that it had an extremely low chance of becoming cancer.
Hope you get a good outcome, the worrying does your head in.
Lyn
Sophie66
I wonder if the referral is quicker from a. GP rather than a dentist,
No but referrals get lost in the system. Find out who you are referred to and ring their secretary
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
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