Oral cancer is cancer that develops anywhere in the mouth, including on the lips, the lining of the lips and cheeks, tongue, hard palate and floor of the mouth. Sometimes, oral cancer is found by a dentist, hygienist or physician during a routine exam before noticeable symptoms develop. Other times, however.
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an oral cancer diagnosis is made after an individual experiences symptoms and consults with their physician. As with other cancers, oral cancer is generally more treatable when it is discovered in its early stages. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of oral cancer so they can be promptly reported to a physician as soon as they appear.
Sores that won’t heal
It’s normal to develop sores in your mouth, so no need to worry if you bite your cheek or develop a canker sore. Run-of-the-mill sores should heal within two to three weeks, however, so take note of any sores that last longer than that (per the Mayo Clinic).
If you develop a sore in your mouth, use a mirror to look at it. Canker sores have a round or oval shape with a red border and a white or yellow center. They may cause pain or a burning or stinging sensation, even before they appear. Canker sores can appear anywhere in the oral cavity, including on or under the tongue, on the inner cheeks, inside the lips, and on the soft palate.
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Red- or white-colored patches in your mouth
Other than the occasional canker sore, your oral cavity should be fairly smooth and consistently pink. If you notice any raised or flat patches that are white, grey, or red, take note. These may be pre-cancerous patches that can develop into oral cancer.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are three types of precancerous patches that precede oral cancer: leukoplakia, erythroplakia, and erythroleukoplakia. Leukoplakia appears as flat white or grey patches, erythroplakia appears as raised or flat red patches, and erythroleukoplakia appears as patches that are mixed red and white. You will not be able to scrape these patches off, and they may bleed if you try.
Unexplained lumps in your mouth or throat
Oral cancer causes tumors to develop, and these tumors may present as lumps in any part of your oral cavity, the back of your throat, or even in your throat.
According to information from the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, these lumps may vary in appearance depending on where they are found. You will probably be able to see lumps on the tongue, lips, cheeks, or gums. They should feel like a bump. Chances are that you will not be able to see any lumps in your throat, especially if they are deep.
Tumors deep in the mouth or throat may make it difficult to swallow, or you might feel like you have something stuck in your throat. None of these tumors should feel painful.
Pain that does not resolve on its own
Of course, you expect a canker sore to hurt, and it should come as no surprise if you feel pain after burning the roof of your mouth with a hot slice of pizza. But new pain that seems unrelated to a recent injury is cause for concern, especially if that pain does not go away.
For some patients, unexplained pain is the first symptom of oral cancer. One 2006 study published in the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology and Endodontics evaluated the medical records of close to 1,500 patients with oral cancer. Just under 20% of these patients described pain as their first symptom, with a sore throat, mouth pain, and tongue pain as the top three complaints.
Similarly, a 2022 study from the same journal followed a group of cancer patients and found that for more than half of them, pain was the initial reason that they sought treatment. In this group, some of the most common complaints were pain when chewing or swallowing and earache.
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