# Calm me down (medical) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680 "2001-08-02T19:25:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/1 "2001-08-02T19:25:33Z")
Ok, here’s one that just today, for some reason, has me going insane, as the minor hypchondriac that I am. And don’t tell me to go to a doctor, because I fully plan on it, but won’t be able to get an appointment for a week or so, and it’s hardly an emergency. For the past month or two (possibly more, more on this later) I’ve had a little lump where my tounge meets the inside of my gums more or less vertical from my canine tooth, about where the salivary duct is. It doesn’t hurt, isn’t discolored, and is not anchored to the bone. It can move a little bit, and is really nothing more than an annoyance. It hasn’t grown, and doesn’t affect me in any way. Obviously, the thought that’s racing through my mind is oral cancer, and I’m worried sick. However, I have none of the risk factors. I’m a 20 year old male who’s never smoked, have consumed perhaps 30 beers in my life, have good oral hygene (never had a cavity) and have no genetic predisposition to any cancers (except for breast cancers, in, of all people, my uncle (heavy heavy heavy smoker, and tested NEGATIVE for the breast cancer gene). Also, for as long as I can remember until about a year ago, I had a very similar thing on the OTHER side of my mouth, and it just went away. In fact, until it when away, I didn’t even consider it abnormal, as I had never in my life experienced anything different. No dentist ever commented on it, either, and I have spent a rather significant amount of time in the chairs of orthodontits, as well as yearly (more?) dental checkups for all my life, and I’m almost certain that they’d have noticed it. So? What else could it be? And again, don’t tell me to see a doctor, because that’s what I fully plan on doing. I just want some other possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/2 "2001-08-02T19:37:21Z")
Your description makes it sound like a mucoid cyst. They’re completely harmless. Now go see your doctor or dentist. Qadgop, MD ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/3 "2001-08-02T19:52:56Z")
You’ve had this before on the other side of your mouth? You didn’t worry about that? Your dentist saw it and didn’t comment on it? It went away by itself? Now you have the same thing on the other side and you’re freakin out?[list][list][list][list][list][list][list] **WHY?** …😕… ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/4 "2001-08-02T19:58:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kniz \* > \*\*You’ve had this before on the other side of your mouth? You didn’t worry about that? Your dentist saw it and didn’t comment on it? It went away by itself? Now you have the same thing on the other side and you’re freakin out?[list][list][list][list][list][list][list] **WHY?** > > …😕… \*\* Honestly? Because I’m just a minor hypchondriac, was bored at work, started looking stuff up in WebMD, and all I found was oral cancer. I know it’s really not a logical reason to be worried, but I’m a pretty nervous/anxious person, and I figured that it would be better to just post here, get a doctor to tell me it was more than likely ok, so that I’ll be able to sleep between now and next week, when I planed on going to the doctor for an unrelated check up. To put it in one sentence, it’s a totally irrational fear, and I know it, but I was nervous nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/5 "2001-08-02T20:05:09Z")
**Flymaster** you sound just like me. I keep freaking out at moles I see on me. And 99.9999999% they are the same ones that have been on me for most of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/6 "2001-08-02T20:05:17Z")
You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/7 "2001-08-02T20:14:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*You’re welcome. \*\* And you’re thanked 😃 Sorry I forgot to say that in my second post, but I definetly meant to. I’ll be able to rest tonight, and deal with this later. ---
**Author:** ![ninja\_rydr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8491ac/32.png) [@ninja\_rydr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninja_rydr)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calm-me-down-medical/74680/8 "2001-08-02T21:36:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\*I’m a 20 year old male who’s never smoked, have consumed perhaps 30 beers in my life. \*\* Here is an idea, have a beer and a smoke and relax!