Warning: This article discusses cancer, which may be distressing for some readers.
A woman faced a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis after doctors dismissed a white mark on her tongue as something harmless for many years.
Sharon Moreby first observed a white, web-like patch on her tongue nearly two decades ago during her dental hygiene routine.
At 54, Sharon was repeatedly informed that the mark was dysplasia, a condition involving abnormal but non-cancerous cell growth.
Over 18 years, Sharon underwent eight biopsies and laser treatment on her tongue’s left side, with medical professionals consistently stating that the mark posed no danger.
She also claimed a surgeon attributed the issue to her biting her tongue in her sleep, leading her to wear dental braces for two years based on his advice.
Despite these efforts, Sharon’s condition worsened, with symptoms including earache, jaw pain, swallowing difficulties, and a new lump on her neck.
Once again, her concerns were dismissed by doctors, who attributed her symptoms to menopause.
It wasn’t until Sharon underwent another biopsy in August 2023 that she was diagnosed with aggressive HPV-related tongue cancer.
She explained: “I had noticed a little, white patch on the left side of my tongue that looked like a spider web when I was brushing my teeth.
“I didn’t think much of it. I wasn’t overly concerned.
“I was reading a magazine article talking all about the cancers and it mentioned white patches, so I rang my dentist to get it checked out.
“From then on, over the years it just kept coming back. It kept growing towards the back of my tongue. It was probably the size of a penny.
“They kept doing biopsies. It was getting more severe. They kept saying it was dysplasia. I thought it can’t be cancer, I’ve had that many biopsies.”
Sharon, who resides in Barnsley, UK, added: “They made me wear braces for two years because they thought I was biting my tongue in my sleep.
“Obviously it didn’t work because I wasn’t doing that. That just aggravated it.
“I think I probably had cancer at that point and I was told I was just biting my tongue.”
A decade after first noticing the white spots, her condition deteriorated.
“I started having problems swallowing. I went to the GP and explained all the pain I was in and they said it was probably to do with menopause,” Sharon added.
A consultation with her dental hygienist finally led to a referral for another biopsy, which confirmed her cancer diagnosis.
Sharon underwent a neck dissection to remove the cancer from her mouth two months later, followed by reconstructive surgery on her tongue using tissue from her left arm.
Fortunately, she is now in remission, though she feels disappointed by how medical professionals handled her case over the years.
“I’ve no idea why all my biopsies came back clear. I think if I’d left it much longer, I don’t think I’d be here,” Sharon added.
“I feel like I was let down. I don’t know if that white patch I found all those years ago was cancer.
“Now looking back, why didn’t they look into it more? Why did it keep coming back?”
She now encourages others to trust their instincts and persist with medical consultations.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and wish to speak to someone confidentially, you can contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or through their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.