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Oral cancer occurs on the lower lip, inside the mouth, on the back of the throat, the tonsils or salivary glands. It occurs more frequently in men than women, and is most likely to strike people over 40. Smoking in combination with heavy alcohol use is a key risk factor, and can be fatal, with an overall five-year survival rate of approximately 50 percent. However, detecting oral cancer early is the key to successful treatment.
The commonest symptoms of mouth cancer are:
- Changes in the way the soft tissues of your mouth normally looks or feels
- Mouth sores that won’t heal
- Persistent mouth pain,
- Thickening of the cheek, and
- Loss of teeth.
- White patches anywhere in your mouth (leukoplakia)
- Red patches anywhere in your mouth (erythroplakia)
- A lump on the lip, tongue, neck, or in the mouth or throat
- Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
- Pain when chewing or swallowing
- A feeling that something is caught in the throat
- Loose teeth or dentures feeling uncomfortable and not fitting properly
- A change in your voice or speech problems
- Weight loss
Most dental professionals are trained in screening for mouth cancer, so you should make sure that checking for mouth cancer is part of your six month routine dental check-up. If you experience any of the above symptoms, please see your doctor or dentist right away.
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