If any signs or symptoms last for more than two weeks or quickly get worse, then contact your doctor or dentist as soon as you can. Unless your family physician is also an ear, nose, mouth specialist (otolaryngologist), then your dentist may be the better bet to start with because they can rule out any non-cancerous mouth problems more readily and then treat them to relieve your discomfort. In addition to a mouth exam (including your lips, cheeks, tongue, gums, tonsils and throat) your neck, ears, and nose should also be looked at to determine the cause of your problem. Your doctor or dentist will also ask you about risky behaviors (tobacco smoking and alcohol use) and your family history, as some cancers have a genetic link. Be aware that people over 40 years of age, especially if they are male and of African American descent, are considered at higher risk for oral cancers. Along with an exam of your mouth and throat, some dentists or doctors may use special oral dyes to better visualize abnormal areas in your mouth, especially if you are considered at higher risk for oral cancer. For example, one method uses a dye called toluidine blue. Putting toluidine blue dye over a cancerous area in your mouth will make the diseased tissue stain a darker blue than surrounding healthy tissue. Sometimes infected or injured tissue also stains dark blue, so it's not a definitive test for cancer, just a visual guide. To be sure of cancer, a tissue sample (biopsy) needs to be taken and looked at under a microscope by a cancer specialist. This way you can get an accurate diagnosis. Another method of trying to distinguish healthy tissue from cancerous tissue in the mouth is by using special lasers. In general, when laser light is reflected off abnormal tissue, it looks different (duller) from light reflected off normal tissue. Another method uses a special fluorescent light to view the mouth after it's been rinsed with an acetic acid solution (vinegar, basically). Again the cancerous tissue stands out. If an abnormal area of the mouth is suspected, a tissue biopsy is usually performed. Alternatively, sometimes the abnormal tissue can be evaluated by exfoliative cytology, where the suspected lesion is scraped with a stiff brush and the cells looked at microscopically.

Summary: Make an appointment with your doctor or dentist. Ask your doctor about special dyes for your mouth. Ask your doctor about using laser light instead.

Gently rinse the foot under lukewarm water, or fill a bucket with clean warm water and submerge the paw. Submerging the paw is helpful for washing out any debris that may be in the area. If necessary, you can use tweezers to remove any debris. If your dog's paw continues to bleed after you have removed any debris and washed the wound, use a clean bandage or cloth to apply light pressure to the area until the bleeding stops. If you cannot control the bleeding after 5 minutes of continuous pressure, seek veterinary care. Lying the dog down and elevating the injured paw will help slow the bleeding. You will need to apply an antiseptic like povidone-iodine (e.g., Betadine, Pyodine, and Wokadine) to kill any germs near the wound. Applying the antiseptic at full strength, however, can burn your dog's paw. Diluting to a solution of one part povidone-iodine to 10 parts warm water is suggested. It will appear to be the color of weak tea. Once any blood and debris are removed and the wound has been cleaned, swab the area with a cotton ball saturated in the diluted povidone-iodine solution and allow the area to air dry. You can either use a salve designed for humans, such as bacitracin (e.g., Neosporin) or one developed specifically for dogs (Vetericyn). The antibacterial ointment will help prevent infection and is safe if your dog happens to lick it. The first layer on the wound should be sterilized and nonstick. It should be large enough to cover the entire injury. Some good brands for non-adhering dressing pads include Telfa and Medtronic. You can find them at most pharmacies and some grocery stores or convenience stores. Lightly wrap the absorbent pad and the foot pad with a self-adhering bandage designed for animals (such as Vertrap, Pet-Flex, or Pet Wrap). Leave the front toes out, and wrap the paw up to the wrist joint. The claws of the paw should be nearly touching. If the claws are separated or if the foot feels cold, you have tied the bandage too tight. Remove and try again. This will not only protect the injury from being infected, it will also offer additional cushioning for the foot pad. Be sure the pressure is appropriate for your dog; you don't want to cut off his circulation. The wrapping should be snug enough that it stays on their foot but loose enough that you can place two fingers under the bandaging. Tying the bandage too tight can cut off the blood supply to the paw and may even cause limb death. Call your vet if you are worried about tying the bandage too tightly.

Summary: Clean the wound. Stop the bleeding. Dilute your disinfectant. Apply the disinfectant. Cover the wound with antibacterial ointment. Place an absorbent pad on the wound. Wrap the injured paw and protect it from additional injury.

When your marriage is struggling, it can be hard to feel good about yourself. However, it's important that when you catch yourself thinking negative things about yourself, you challenge those thoughts and replace them with a positive thought about yourself, instead. This is especially true if you have a pattern of difficult relationshipsyou may have been told throughout your life that you're not good enough, or you might place a lot of blame on yourself for the way things are going. For instance, if you find yourself thinking, "I always hurt people and no one will ever love me," you might replace that thought with something like, "Right now, I'm fighting as hard as I can to save my marriage because I love my wife. I'm trying to be the best person I can." In order to ensure you have the healthiest relationship possible, make sure you still carve out at least a little time for your own hobbies and interests. Otherwise, you might start to feel trapped or resentful. Even if you're not aware of it, these feelings can start to come out, impacting your relationship with your wife. For instance, you might go for a run every morning before work, or you might meet your friends one Saturday a month for drinks. In order to have a healthy, loving relationship, you have to first be healthy yourself. Eat a healthy diet, get 30 minutes of exercise a day, and practice stress-relieving activities like mindfulness or deep breathing exercises to help you feel more physically and mentally ready to take on the world each day. Taking great care of yourself will boost your confidence, which might have the added bonus of making your wife feel more physically attracted to you. It's important to keep pushing yourself in new directions, even if that seems a little scary sometimes. Not only will it give you a personal sense of accomplishment, but it will also show your wife that you're capable of growth, which she's likely to appreciate. For instance, if you're unhappy in your career, you might take night classes that will allow you to eventually get a job you'll enjoy more. You might also set goals to improve how well you eat, to accomplish things around your home, or to spend more time with your family and friends. Choose personal goals that are important to you! Unfortunately, there's only so much you can do to change your relationship with your wife. If she's not willing or able to work toward a healthier marriage with you, it might be best to agree to a separation, or even a divorce if you can't reconcile after a time. If your arguments escalate into physical, verbal, or emotional abusefrom either partyyour relationship has become toxic. You will likely need professional counseling to overcome those patterns, if they can be changed at all, and it's generally best to separate to ensure the situation doesn't continue to worsen.
Summary: Confront and replace negative thoughts about yourself. Make time for the things you enjoy. Take care of your body and mind. Set new goals for yourself and work towards them. Consider ending the marriage if it's become toxic.