Something in my lens?

[symphonyx]

I hope I'm in the right section.

I bought my Canon PowerShot SD1300IS on Amazon last year, brand new.

I have never had this problem, I have plenty of pictures that I've taken that were fine.

I have let my mother use it and it's been rattling around in her purse for awhile. One day I asked her for it and went to use it for a concert I went to, and I noticed a big black dot in every single one of my shots. The dot got bigger and blurrier as I zoomed in.

I tried cleaning off the lens with a glasses cloth that I have, but I'm almost positive that whatever it is, is on the inside somehow.

I'm not sure where to bring it to get cleaned out, or if such a place even exists.. But I was hoping that someone else has had this problem before and could help me fix it so that I don't have to go out and buy a new camera for my trip in April. :(

Thanks in advance!

[ksmdigital]

Looking at the front of the lens, can you see the spot?
Tap the camera against your hand to see if the spot will move.
Try using a vacuum cleaner to suck out the dust from the side of the lens opening, just don't cover up the whole lens with the vacuum.