Symptoms Of Mouth Cancer

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By peace | July 3, 2006

Any part of the mouth, nose or throat may be affected by cancer. Each year, more than 600 people in Victoria are diagnosed with cancer in the mouth, nose or throat. These cancers are more common in men and in people over 50 years of age.

One of the real dangers of this cancer, is that in its early stages, it can go unnoticed. It can be painless, and little in the way of physical changes may be obvious. The good news is however, that your dentist or doctor can see or feel the precursor tissue changes, or the actual cancer while it is still very small, or in its earliest stages.

It may appear as a white or red patch of tissue in the mouth, or a small indurated ulcer which looks like a common canker sore. Because there are so many benign tissue changes that occur normally in your mouth, and some things as simple as a bite on the inside of your cheek may mimic the look of a dangerous tissue change, it is important to have any sore or discolored area of your mouth, which does not heal within 14 days, looked at by a professional.

Other symptoms include; a lump or mass which can be felt inside the mouth or neck, pain or difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or chewing, any wart like masses, hoarseness which lasts for a long time, or any numbness in the oral/facial region. Other than the lips, the most common areas for oral cancer to develop are on the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Individuals that use chewing tobacco, are likely to have them develop in the sulcus between the lip or cheek and the soft tissue (gingiva) covering the lower jaw (mandible).

In the US, cancers of the hard palate are uncommon, though not unknown. The base of the tongue at the back of the mouth, and on the pillars of the tonsils, are other sites where it is commonly found. If your dentist or doctor decides that an area is suspicious, the only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy of the area. This is not painful, is inexpensive, and takes little time. It is important to have a firm diagnosis as early as possible. It is possible that your general dentist or medical doctor, may refer you to a specialist to have the biopsy performed. This is not cause for alarm, but a normal part of referring that happens between doctors of different specialties.

Changes in the way the soft tissues of your mouth usually look or feel can be early mouth cancer symptoms. You won’t always be able to spot the earliest warning signs of oral cancer, which is why regular check-ups with both your dentist and physician are so important. Your dentist is trained to detect early warning signs of oral cancer. However, in addition to check-ups, you should see your dentist if you do notice any of the following potential mouth cancer symptoms:

Changes in the way the soft tissues of your mouth usually look or feel can be early mouth cancer symptoms. These mouth cancer symptoms can include mouth sores that do not heal, persistent mouth pain, thickening of the cheek, and loss of teeth.
A sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal and discomfort or pain in the mouth that does not go away may be symptoms of oral cancer.
Other mouth cancer symptoms may include white (leukoplakia) or red (erythroplakia) patches anywhere in your mouth. White or red patches can be signs of pre-malignancy. Pre-malignant cells are abnormal, but they are not yet cancer. If left untreated, pre-malignancy can go on to develop into cancer. But if you get the condition treated, you can prevent a cancer from developing.
A lump on the lip, tongue or in the mouth or throat and unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth.
The patient may experience pain while chewing or swallowing. There may also be a feeling that there is something in your throat.
Loss of teeth and a change in the voice, speech problems, unexplained bleeding or numbness in your mouth also are oral cancer symptoms.
Other mouth/oral cancer symptoms may include weight loss, a lump in the neck.

These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious problems. It is important to see a dentist or doctor about any symptoms like these, so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Early Warning Signs
Oral cancer-represented by red, white or discolored lesions, patches or lumps in or around the mouth-is typically painless in its early stages. As the malignant cancer spreads and destroys healthy oral tissue, the lesions or lumps become more painful. However, oral cancer is sometimes difficult to self-diagnose so routine dental exams are recommended. See your dentist immediately if you observe: any sore that persists longer than two weeks; a swelling, growth or lump anywhere in or about the mouth or neck; white or red patches in the mouth or on the lips; repeated bleeding from the mouth or throat; difficulty swallowing or persistent hoarseness.

Summary of mouth/oral cancer symptoms :

A sore on the lips, gums, or inside of your mouth that bleeds easily and doesn’t heal.
A lump or thickening in the cheek that you can feel with your tongue.
White or red patches on the gums, tongue or inside of mouth.
A feeling that something is caught in the throat.
Difficulty chewing or swallowing food.
Change in voice.
Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth.
Loose teeth or dentures feeling uncomfortable and not fitting properly.
Loss of feeling or numbness in any part of your mouth.
A sore throat that does not clear up.
Swelling of the jaw causing dentures to fit poorly.
A change in your voice or speech problems.
Weight loss.
A lump in the neck.
Pain in the ear.
May develop a burning sensation or pain when the tumor is advanced