Hi Michael,
The one thing I can tell you is that many years ago a lump, just like you described, popped up on my tongue out of nowhere from one day to the next. It was on the side, towards the back. It scared me to death and it bothered me because I would bite it because of where it was. Otherwise it would not have hurt. I went to the dentist about a week or two after it popped up and he didn't have any idea what it was and sent me to a different doctor. I don't remember what kind of doctor but I believe it was directly to a surgeon. He removed it within a couple of days of seeing me and it ended up being an enflamed taste bud. It would not have gone away but it wasn't cancer. As I said, mine was in a different part of the tongue and you really should get it checked right away but I bet you are okay.
Good luck with the results, just don't wait too long. It's probably nothing!
Judy