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hard lump in roof of mouth, what is next step
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hard lump in roof of mouth, what is next step

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › hard lump in roof of mouth, what is next step

  • Post
    • September 24, 2010 at 7:25 pm
    bcl
    Participant

      Early stage mel. Sore throat for a few weeks. Cough sometimes when talking. Hard lump is new.  Physician is sending me for a dental X Ray tomorrow, with an appointment early next week to determine next step.  Should I request an ultra sound?  Needle biopsy?   Very scared but trying to keep things in perspective.

      Early stage mel. Sore throat for a few weeks. Cough sometimes when talking. Hard lump is new.  Physician is sending me for a dental X Ray tomorrow, with an appointment early next week to determine next step.  Should I request an ultra sound?  Needle biopsy?   Very scared but trying to keep things in perspective.

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        • September 24, 2010 at 9:42 pm
        bcl
        Participant

          so much for keeping things in perspective, the doctors office just called to make sure I go in first thing next week. Maybe when I posted here I should not have said I was early stage, maybe then I would have got a reply.  

            • September 24, 2010 at 9:44 pm
            jag
            Participant

              Where was your initial primary?

              • September 24, 2010 at 11:47 pm
              bcl
              Participant

                upper right arm, and my throat has been sore for well over a month, no cold, just raw on one side. I think the bump  ( right side) has been there at least a month, I have been ignoring it like a good stage 1b:)  On vacation I found myself pressing into my neck to numb the pain.  I think the thing that scares me the most is the coughing during the night.  ( Upright, gasping, hard to get air, sore afterwards, but still,  it does go away – so I forgetabout it) And maybe the expulsion of air that happens when I talk sometimes.  My multiple lung nodules were deemed benign last year – I am hoping  this is a tempest in a teacup, but right now I want to know what tests I should ask for. ( I will ask for a lung CT but it's the lump I need to know what to do with.) Remember, I am in laid back Canada where we only see an onc if we are confirmed stage 3 or 4 and have scans at the speed of a snail… So I have to be strategic in what I ask for.

                • September 25, 2010 at 1:24 am
                jag
                Participant

                  Well, although I have yet to hear of a hard palate (I think that is what you are referring to) metastases, anything is possible.     That said, the most common metastases are to lymph nodes close to the primary, or seeding to well vascularized organs like the lungs, or liver.  If it is a soft tissue lump, a fine needle aspirate would be a good diagnostic first step to rule it out.  I  hope it is just an inflamed lymph node secondary to something benign like oh say, a tooth abscess.  I would go ahead with the plan and see what you get.  If you can get a thoracic CT, that would be icing on the cake-make sure the lung nodules are keeping stable.

                  • September 25, 2010 at 9:59 am
                  bcl
                  Participant

                    Thanks so much John, I will see what the dentist says tomorrow & will post here. Pretty sure I can get the CT and possibly an ultrasound, depending on what the dentist says. But I will certainly mention the FNA if needed. It helps to have a plan – even if it is overreacting:)

                    • September 25, 2010 at 9:59 am
                    bcl
                    Participant

                      Thanks so much John, I will see what the dentist says tomorrow & will post here. Pretty sure I can get the CT and possibly an ultrasound, depending on what the dentist says. But I will certainly mention the FNA if needed. It helps to have a plan – even if it is overreacting:)

                      • September 25, 2010 at 1:24 am
                      jag
                      Participant

                        Well, although I have yet to hear of a hard palate (I think that is what you are referring to) metastases, anything is possible.     That said, the most common metastases are to lymph nodes close to the primary, or seeding to well vascularized organs like the lungs, or liver.  If it is a soft tissue lump, a fine needle aspirate would be a good diagnostic first step to rule it out.  I  hope it is just an inflamed lymph node secondary to something benign like oh say, a tooth abscess.  I would go ahead with the plan and see what you get.  If you can get a thoracic CT, that would be icing on the cake-make sure the lung nodules are keeping stable.

                        • September 24, 2010 at 11:47 pm
                        bcl
                        Participant

                          upper right arm, and my throat has been sore for well over a month, no cold, just raw on one side. I think the bump  ( right side) has been there at least a month, I have been ignoring it like a good stage 1b:)  On vacation I found myself pressing into my neck to numb the pain.  I think the thing that scares me the most is the coughing during the night.  ( Upright, gasping, hard to get air, sore afterwards, but still,  it does go away – so I forgetabout it) And maybe the expulsion of air that happens when I talk sometimes.  My multiple lung nodules were deemed benign last year – I am hoping  this is a tempest in a teacup, but right now I want to know what tests I should ask for. ( I will ask for a lung CT but it's the lump I need to know what to do with.) Remember, I am in laid back Canada where we only see an onc if we are confirmed stage 3 or 4 and have scans at the speed of a snail… So I have to be strategic in what I ask for.

                          • September 24, 2010 at 9:44 pm
                          jag
                          Participant

                            Where was your initial primary?

                          • September 24, 2010 at 9:42 pm
                          bcl
                          Participant

                            so much for keeping things in perspective, the doctors office just called to make sure I go in first thing next week. Maybe when I posted here I should not have said I was early stage, maybe then I would have got a reply.  

                            • September 24, 2010 at 10:28 pm
                            W.
                            Participant

                              There are a number of common, benign conditions that can cause hard lumps in the mouth (for example "Torus palatinus"). Oral metastases are rare, even more so at early stage. 

                              So while it is a good idea to get this checked, I think it is highly likely that this is something not related to melanoma. (Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, of course…)

                              • September 24, 2010 at 10:28 pm
                              W.
                              Participant

                                There are a number of common, benign conditions that can cause hard lumps in the mouth (for example "Torus palatinus"). Oral metastases are rare, even more so at early stage. 

                                So while it is a good idea to get this checked, I think it is highly likely that this is something not related to melanoma. (Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, of course…)

                                  • September 24, 2010 at 11:49 pm
                                  bcl
                                  Participant

                                    Thank you. I will look this up.

                                    • September 24, 2010 at 11:49 pm
                                    bcl
                                    Participant

                                      Thank you. I will look this up.

                                    • September 25, 2010 at 12:11 am
                                    lhaley
                                    Participant

                                      One of my latest lumps was watched for a month with an ultra sound (it did not show up on the PET), when it grew 1 mm they did a fna. After it came back mel another PET was ordered.  Then it decided to show up.  I would think that they would insist do an ultrasound to determine what they are dealing with. If they are waivering on a fna I would insist.

                                      Don't feel that everything in the US is done with lightening speed.  Due to constant complications and the fact that I felt the lump before it was large enough to be picked up on a scan my surgery will be approx 4 months from the day I first felt the lump!! 

                                      I know it's scary when the Doc calls and tells you to make sure and go next week but at least he is showing concern.

                                      Linda

                                        • September 25, 2010 at 9:47 am
                                        bcl
                                        Participant

                                          Thank you Linda, you are so kind to reassure me when you are going through so much -and you are right, I am very lucky the doctor cares (especially since my own doc is on vacation and this guy was brand new to me!)  With what you and John have told me I feel better prepared and less anxious. (Mind you, it's 3.00am and I'm still up -but at least I'm not weeping about missing my daughter's spring wedding anymore:)

                                          Good luck to you with your long awaited surgery Linda, and thanks again, alsoalinda:)

                                          • September 25, 2010 at 9:47 am
                                          bcl
                                          Participant

                                            Thank you Linda, you are so kind to reassure me when you are going through so much -and you are right, I am very lucky the doctor cares (especially since my own doc is on vacation and this guy was brand new to me!)  With what you and John have told me I feel better prepared and less anxious. (Mind you, it's 3.00am and I'm still up -but at least I'm not weeping about missing my daughter's spring wedding anymore:)

                                            Good luck to you with your long awaited surgery Linda, and thanks again, alsoalinda:)

                                          • September 25, 2010 at 12:11 am
                                          lhaley
                                          Participant

                                            One of my latest lumps was watched for a month with an ultra sound (it did not show up on the PET), when it grew 1 mm they did a fna. After it came back mel another PET was ordered.  Then it decided to show up.  I would think that they would insist do an ultrasound to determine what they are dealing with. If they are waivering on a fna I would insist.

                                            Don't feel that everything in the US is done with lightening speed.  Due to constant complications and the fact that I felt the lump before it was large enough to be picked up on a scan my surgery will be approx 4 months from the day I first felt the lump!! 

                                            I know it's scary when the Doc calls and tells you to make sure and go next week but at least he is showing concern.

                                            Linda

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