Symptoms

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

The symptoms of oral cancer may include ulcers, growths, lumps or lesions in the mouth or neck that fail to heal spontaneously.

These skin lesions, lumps, ulcers and other common symptoms may be described as:

• A growth that rises above the surface on the tongue, behind the ear, on the lip or other mouth areas
• Difficulty chewing due to pain
• Loosening of teeth or a growth developing behind the wisdom tooth
• A lump in the neck

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this type of cancer include:

• Difficulty moving the tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sores on the mouth
• Pain and paraesthesia

A white patch (leukoplakia) or a red patch (erythroplakia) in the mucus lining of the mouth usually represents dysplasia (deterioration) of the surface tissue. These patches must be evaluated and monitored by your physician on a regular basis as there is a significant risk of developing cancer in these areas. A biopsy may be necessary to accurately diagnose the symptoms.