10 Oral Cancer Symptoms
Oral cancer, commonly known as mouth cancer, is a type of cancer that develops in the tissues of the mouth and throat. Mostly this type of cancer develops in the cells of the mouth, tongue, and lips.
Middle-aged men are twice more likely to develop oral cancer than women. Early detection is very important to surviving oral cancer, even though in most cases it is only diagnosed after cancer has spread to the lymph nodes of the neck.
Oral cancer risk factors include: cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, HPV infection, poor nutrition, genetic syndromes, being male, family history of oral cancer, oral cancer in the past, Chronic facial sun exposure & a weak immune system.
Oral cancer is diagnosed based on physical examination, brush biopsy, tissue biopsy, X-ray, CT-scan, MRI, and endoscopy.
Symptom #1: Mouth Sore and Ulcer
Mouth sores are usually benign. In this case, they tend to resolve within 10 days. Benign mouth sores are thin and soft, rarely bleeding. On the other hand, malignant mouth sores tend to bleed frequently. They are also thick and hard, persisting for a long period of time and often accompanied by other signs and symptoms as well.
Don’t ignore the presence of mouth sores and ulcers and pay attention to the time these sores and ulcers take to heal. They can be either small or large, occurring anywhere in your oral cavity, often on the lips, cheeks, throat, and gums.
Symptom #2: Lumps or Thick Patches in Mouth, Cheek, and Throat
The presence of red or white patches in the mouth, cheek or throat could be a symptom of oral cancer, especially if these patches persist for more than two weeks and if they are surrounded by a firm and sore area.
The presence of a lump, inside the oral cavity is another symptom of oral cancer. Lumps are more likely to occur and become noticeable when the disease is progressing. It is important to go to the dentist regularly to keep good oral hygiene and to look for any early signs of oral cancer.
Symptom #3: Persistent Sore Throat
A persistent sore throat is another symptom that those suffering from oral cancer tend to deal with. If a sore throat is not getting any better after a couple of days, and especially if a sore throat becomes persistent and not related to a common cold or flu, seek medical help. It could be a sign of something more serious, such as oral cancer.
Swallowing also becomes a real problem in cases of a persistent sore throat.
Symptom #4: Dysphagia
Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is another symptom of oral cancer, usually in its advanced stages. This means the cancer has spread to the nearby structures and lymph nodes and affect the throat and neck. Swallowing any type of food can be a real challenge. Swallowing large pieces of food and hard food become impossible, but as the condition progresses, swallowing liquid/saliva becomes a problem as well.
Dysphagia often leads to choking, infections and even aspiration pneumonia which make the situation even worse. Difficulty breathing is also possible. In cases when the larynx is affected, a person will have the sensation of a lump in the throat.
Symptom #5: Lymph Node Enlargement
Patients suffering from oral cancer tend to develop a lump in their neck. This enlargement can be associated with tumor metastasis or it can be associated with an ongoing mouth infection due to the presence of mouth ulcers that can easily become a focus for infections.
It is important to seek medical attention if you notice this symptom, especially if the lump is hard and difficult to move.
Symptom #6: Speech Impairment
As the disease progresses, the lump inside the mouth can cause the patient to experience some degree of speech impairment.
This issue can be due to painful sores, or it can be associated with the increasing size of a lump inside the mouth.
Symptom #7: General Pain and Swelling of the Oral Cavity
General pain is also one of the oral cancer symptoms. The pain can affect the ear, which links with nerves that give feeling to the tongue, back of the mouth and voice box. Tongue pain is also possible.
This type of pain is really excruciating as the tongue is really sensitive.
Symptom #8: Difficulty Moving the Jaw and Tongue
Normally a person will be able to move the jaw and tongue without any problem. However, in cases of oral cancer, moving the jaw and tongue becomes difficult, painful, or even impossible. This is more likely to occur because of the cancer mass, enlarged lymph nodes, or presence of lumps in the oral cavity and neck.
As with any type of cancer, early detection increases the survival rate significantly. If you started having difficulties moving your jaw and tongue which is not related to any other health condition, then you should check with your healthcare provider as this might be a sign of oral cancer. Luckily, oral cancer can be cured if detected in time.
Symptom #9: Mouth Bleeding
Mouth bleeding without an explainable reason is something that should make you worry as it is a sign of a serious condition which needs proper medical evaluation. Did you know that bleeding gums are an early sign of oral cancer?
Keep in mind that it is not normal to bleed from the mouth. If you notice bleeding gums, bleeding from the sores and ulcers in the mouth or spots of blood coming from your throat seek immediate medical help.
Symptom #10: Unexpected Weight Loss
Just like with any type of cancer or serious and long-term medical condition, unexpected and unintended weight loss is a symptom that requires attention. As oral cancer makes it very difficult and painful to chew and swallow food, it’s normal for the affected person to lose weight because eating becomes very difficult.
Many try to avoid eating because of the pain. Unexpected weight loss is also often related to tumor metastasis to other parts of the body. As oral cancer progresses and becomes more advanced, it starts using more and more calories, leading of course to rapid weight loss.
