Im 20, 510 and around 165lb. Ive never had any serious health problems, but recently have been terribly afraid. Cancer runs in my family, but there are no reports of oral cancer. I have smoked for less than a year. Prior to that, I smoked a pipe in high school. That was also for less than a year. I stopped smoking for a month during the summer and encountered a problem with my mouth. On a family trip, my inner lip started tingling and it felt like I was having an allergic reaction. Some benadryl seemed to help, but theres a canker like sore where the tingling originated. I believe it comes and goes or it could just be there and only tingles occasionally. Its not an open wound, its not bleeding or oozing and its not numb. Theres no pain associated with it, its just a slight rise on my inner lip. One would have to compare both sides of the mouth to know it was there. I had a panic attack today in class after researching oral cancer, Im worried that its something other than a canker sore.
HI, thanks for using Chat Doctor It is understandable to concerned, but it would be less likely to be cancer at your age. It is true that smoking does increase the risk of another of different cancers including oral cancer, but it is more likely at this point that the sore represents oral herpes. Oral herpes is very common and prevalent in the population. It would cause abnormal sensations such as tingling, swelling and a sore. This can be confirmed by your doctor. I hope this helps