[Thad E Ginathom]

How worried about it am I?

Enough not to ever take up paan, gutka, etc etc. I'd rather go back to smoking! Seriously, I think I'd rather die of something less visible than having half of my face rot away, or surgically removed, or whatever.

An ex-girlfriend of mine was a staff nurse in a hospital dermatology outpatients clinic. She told me that she would simply never speak to me again if I started taking paan, and that they had a poster on the clinic wall: You might enjoy your paan, but will you enjoy cancer? She was of Indian origin, too, so cannot be said not to have had any understanding of such things.

Mouth ulcers don't worry me; I don't think I have a single wholly-natural tooth left, and one of the last with a live root broke off recently, so is now root-filled; three of my teeth have titanium roots. I get mouth ulcers occasionally (a dentist once told me that stress causes them) and treat them, they don't worry me --- but any small swelling or roughness and, in my darker hours, yes it concerns me.

Of course, up to now, they have been harmless and simply gone away.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by prince_pervez

Hey thanks Doc. About the Consulting fees, I was just kidding . Forgot to add this --> in my last post.

You weren't ACTUALLY offering to pay for my services? Just tempting me with the thought of money?? You think I'm some sort of saint? Who doesn't need money??

So that's what you get - that smiley!!!

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Of course, up to now, they have been harmless and simply gone away.

Hey Nick, good to have you here. And that's exactly what everyone should know. If an ulcer in the mouth hasn't healed up in a week or 10 days, please go and see a doctor/dentist/oral pathologist. I just saw a gentleman with a couple of ulcers that are there for the last 3 years!!!

[TheDevil]

^My God!!
He must be on a lot of Vicodins!!
On that thought, Doc, is Vicodin available in India?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by TheDevil

^My God!!
He must be on a lot of Vicodins!!
On that thought, Doc, is Vicodin available in India?

You mean for the ulcers? No, they were painless - that's why he neglected to seek medical help all these years.

And as for Vicodin, I don't think that brand is available in the Indian market, but similar preparations are available. The stuff can be addictive - stay away from it without medical advice!

[vivekiny2k]

funny you started this, because i have been trying to get an oral specialist's appointment. I have noticed that I can not tolerate very spicy food any more for last one month. i think i noticed it first while having jalapenos in a pizza.

then only last week noticed that both lower sides on my inner cheeks (which touches lower jaw) had painless grey surfaces. This is the part that burns with spices. also in middle of both cheeks, I have a small scar surrounded by white stuff. since it has appeared in all sides, I am guessing it's something internal.

Should I be worried?

[frankmehta]

You shouldnt be worried, but you shouldnt be callous about this condition as well.
The graveness of the situation can only be determined by the Specialist you visit, and I reckon you must see one soon.
Till the time you see that doctor, i recommend you stop any of your habits (such a situation looks like gutkha, supari or pan masala habit) in order to stop more torture of the tissues in your mouth. I will not scare you with jargon and rain heavy words on you, but chronic irritation to your mouth's inner tissue has resulted in an adverse reaction (not allergic!) and the 'castling effect' or the 'shielding effect' (a wonderful mechanism of the human body) has resulted in the tissue of the region affected, to become hard, rubbery, raw (with even scar tissue formation that suggests constant irriitation and rehealing of the same region) to prevent more damage from the chemical substance (tobacco, nicotine, betel, lime etc)
This MAY or MAY not be pre cancerous. But you must STOP all the acitivities that have led to this (you know what I am speaking about) or else it will surely progress into something not desirable and highly invasive to the body.
Dont get psyched out, but dont be 'cool' about it and neglect it.
REMEMBER, this thread is not of a prescriptive or diagnostic nature. It is more like an awareness thread, and HOWEVER QUALIFIED DOCTORS WE MAY BE, we cannot comment on a situation without observing, palpating and examining the situation in the mouth. Hence, do not sit home and be happy with the advice you have received.
Sorry for the ramble, but we have seen stuff that has scared even us. Don't want neglect and stupid habits to harm any of us!

[frankmehta]

A little something to the doctors on this thread: Please let's not rain heavy terms on the unsuspecting followers of this thread. The JARGON can be explained lucidly, and the medical term for the condition or situation can be explained at a later point by the doctors they visit.
This will maintain the simplicity of the thread, end up as a good archive for future reference purposes, and understanding many things will be simpler for everyone! There is enough information available on Wikipedia or the rest of the web to confuse the layman, but we are here to explain them. Adding to the frenzy might make the 'patient' slightly more rigid/paranoid towards the solution, which may be a simple thing!

Just my 2 cents. Not for anyone in particular. But for future advice!

[vivekiny2k]

thanks Frank. Just responded to your PM. I don't even take soft drinks or sugary drinks more than once a week. no gutka, smoke or any such thing in my life

Now, I should be seeing a dentist, right?

[frankmehta]

yes please. and please brush regularly. no habits makes it slightly lighter on you, but you must get it examined. cheers.. and do not worry!

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

I have noticed that I can not tolerate very spicy food any more for last one month. i think i noticed it first while having jalapenos in a pizza.

then only last week noticed that both lower sides on my inner cheeks (which touches lower jaw) had painless grey surfaces. This is the part that burns with spices.

Hi Vivek: I need to ask you a couple of questions about your condition. You can PM me the answers if you want.
1. Have you started with any new diet, a new toothpaste or mouthwash, or any new medicines in the period just previous to when the burning sensation started?
2. Have you had the jalapenos earlier, or was this the first time?

frankmehta: little something to the doctors on this thread: Please let's not rain heavy terms on the unsuspecting followers of this thread.

Hey frank: I seem to be the only other doctor on this thread till now, apart from you. And where, pray, have you found those 'heavy terms' and jargon which were supposed to have been rained on 'unsuspecting followers'? I thought the 'castling effect' was a far-out term you used!

[frankmehta]

wasnt meant for you sir. i found your posts simple to understand. just as a note, if anyone wants to contribute

[hillram]

Very nice informative thread and thanks for the Dr. for shedding light.I didnt know oral cancer was this spread out and serious.
Good to know the information and understand it.

[tortoiseNhare]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Frank, I wouldn't say that a severe chronic periodontitis due to poor toothbrushing habits per se would lead to a malignancy, but yes, if the very bad gum condition is due to activities like placing a tobacco quid (khaini or gurakhu) there, it can result in an oral cancer starting up. Or, bad gums can also be caused by an underlying disease process like oral lichen planus (desquamative gingivitis is what general dental practitioners would call it), then too, we can have oral cancer.

I was having symptoms of oral LP since January. I didn't have any idea about it and at that time attributed the condition of my lips to dry weather. Only about a week back I came to know about this particular disease. I am now being treated with what I suppose is cortisone+steroid (Deflazacort 6mg twice and Rabeprazole Sodium 20 mg once daily). Is it correct treatment and how do I know if my condition is the precursor to oral cancer?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by tortoiseNhare

I was having symptoms of oral LP since January.
I am now being treated with what I suppose is cortisone+steroid (Deflazacort 6mg twice and Rabeprazole Sodium 20 mg once daily). Is it correct treatment and how do I know if my condition is the precursor to oral cancer?

Oral LP can be treated in a multitude of ways, including ointments containing steroids, corticosteroid tablets and injections, and certain other drugs like Dapsone.

But first, I presume your doctor has confirmed that it IS LP by doing a biopsy, and that there is no dysplasia present, before using corticosteroids. Please check back with him/her about this.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Hi Vivek: I need to ask you a couple of questions about your condition. You can PM me the answers if you want.
1. Have you started with any new diet, a new toothpaste or mouthwash, or any new medicines in the period just previous to when the burning sensation started?
2. Have you had the jalapenos earlier, or was this the first time?

1. No, nothing I can remember has changed in those areas.

2. Now that you asked, this season's Jalapenos have been exceptionally hot. We got that first taste probably 3-4 months back and had to throw away some of it. since then we have been ordering it only half on a pizza, and even then are very careful with it. If it's that, isn't it an awfully long term effect of jalapenos?

Otherwise I have been having it for past 8 yrs without any problems.