Ok, just the thought of cancer is enough to make me nervous since my grandmother and dad both had it. However, my dad just finished chemo and is currently back to normal. But I think it's got me worried that it could run in the family and now I'm having the 'symptoms' of oral cancer. But the symptoms seem to vary from site to site. Anyway, I'm having sore, red gums that are VERY painful when brushing; bleeding gums(when I brush usually); my teeth seem a little loose and it feels like maybe they've moved a bit, but that could be my mind making me think that; I have a white coating on the back of my tongue with red, raised spots in that white area; my throat has been a little sore but I've had a small cold and that went away; my ears kinda hurt off and on randomly; and the BIG concern for me is the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck.. Which there are at least two swollen and the doctor told me he felt like they were nothing serious. But my dad had testicular cancer that spread to a lymph node behind his kidney. So I really don't wanna take any chances with them.
I've been to my family doctor twice-- the first time was to get an HIV test(big scare) since lymph nodes, white tongue, and cold symptoms were all symptoms of HIV but that test came back negative. Also had a CBC(?) I think, to check my blood, not sure what that checks but hopefully that would indicate lymphoma/Hodgkins. But that came back normal.. So when I came back to the doctor, he said he wasn't very concerned about it and he would refer me to an ENT(ear, nose, throat doctor) where they would decide whether to do a biopsy or maybe try 'watchful waiting'. Meanwhile I had been to the dentist once already for sore gums that appeared to be receeding. He gave me an oral rinse for things like gingivitis/perio and told me to use it for 2 weeks and if it didn't help to come back. ---Sorry if this is hard to follow, all the doctors are frustrating--- So NOW I have to go see the ENT who looks in my mouth, ears, nose and feels the swollen nodes. He tells me everything seems normal but understood I was concerned because of family history and set me up for a CT scan of my neck. I've had the scan and have the results here and I'm supposed to take them back to the ENT Friday where he will read them and I guess decide what should be done.--- Back to dentist since my mouth had worsened(tongue, gums receeded more, pain worse and in a different location now). Explained to him my concern of swollen nodes and other symptoms of oral cancer. So once again, despite how much pain I'm having, he tells me everything looks normal.
And tells me there aren't any symptoms of pain for oral cancer and there would probably be growth somewhere. Then he goes on to tell me that usually older men that either smoke, use smokeless tobacco, drink, and/or have poor dental hygiene get oral cancer. And I'm 15 so he tells me something about being 99.99% sure I don't have it. It can happen to anyone though, regardless of what percentages show so that doesn't assure me. He told me he could refer me to a gum surgeon. I'm really stressed about all these different doctors and my parents don't seem to be taking it to seriously, or at least they aren't as concerned. But I'm so nervous... Now I guess I'll just have to wait and see the ENT for my results and ask HIM about my gums and throat since my dentist doesn't seem to see the problem. Why can't they just test for it and get it over with rather than saying I THINK you don't have it? It's very annoying.
So anyway my question is... What exactly ARE the symptoms if the dentist claims none and the internet claims some of which I have? Or is there anything else that could have some of the same symptoms I'm having? I'm kinda freakin myself out over this whole issue and just wanna know what's wrong so if it's serious they can treat it.
God bless!
..And sorry for the long story.
Oral Cancer?? 
