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Is There Any Way

This Could Be Cancer?

by Kelly Bryan

I t was just before Christmas 2017. her look at the spot in my throat.
I was brushing my teeth and
“Is there any way this could be cancer?”
noticed some blood.
I asked.
That’s weird, I thought. “Absolutely not,” she said. “It’s probably an
I got my cell phone flashlight and looked in infection. Worst case scenario you might lose
the mirror to see if I had cut myself. What I a tooth.”
saw was a small circular patch way in the back She gave me a penicillin prescription and
of my mouth on the gum line. It looked raw, recommended I see an endodontist. I asked
kind of like the surface of raspberry. him the same question:
I had just been to the dentist a month “Is there any way this could be cancer?”
earlier, but over the next several days I “Highly unlikely,” he said. “You don’t fit the
continued to see blood every time I brushed profile.”
my teeth. So I went back to the dentist to have He suggested I see an oral surgeon, which I

Kelly’s family together on the night before her surgery wearing
“Team Kelly” shirts made by Kelly’s husband, Jason.

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