by Justin Lee

Created on: February 24, 2009

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancers are cancers of the oral cavity or of the oropharynx (area just behind the oral cavity). They are considered "squamous cell carcinomas" because they usually start in squamous (thin/flat) cells that cover the surfaces of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Oral cancers typically begin as tumors in the tongue or the floor of the mouth, but if they are left undetected for long enough, oral cancers will metastasize through the lymphatic system to invade the neck's lymph nodes or more distant lymph nodes and organs.

Knowing the symptoms of oral cancer is essential for early detection of oral cancer, and early detection is key to treating oral cancers before they progress (spread or metastasize) into a serious health hazard.

How can you tell if you have oral cancer?

Oral cancer symptoms will most likely present as red, white, or mixed-colored (red and white) patches inside the mouth or on the lips. The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth, White patches (leukoplakia) are the most common early signs of oral cancer. Mixed red and white patches (erythroleukoplakia) and smooth, brightly colored red patches (erythroplakia) are also relatively common. White patches sometimes turn malignant, mixed-colored patches are more likely than white patches to become malignant, and red patches are the most dangerous/malignant of the three types of patches.

Other early symptoms of oral cancer include: the presence of persistent facial swellings or lumps, bumps and rough spots on the face, any crustiness on the face, thickened skin, a sore on the lips or in the mouth that won't heal (i.e., lasts for two weeks or longer), chronic sore throat and hoarseness of voice, unexplained bleeding in the mouth, mouth numbness or loss of feeling, loose teeth, difficulty or pain when chewing, swallowing or speaking, tenderness/pain in the face or lips, a palpable lump or pain in the neck, difficulty wearing dentures, difficulty chewing or swallowing, dramatic weight loss, eroded areas on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth, and earaches/ear pain.

Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor or dentist immediately so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. If the doctor/dentist sees any unusual findings upon initial physical examination (e.g., sores or discolored tissue), he will order a biopsy to confirm or deny the presence or absence of cancerous tissue. The presence of these symptoms is usually not indicative of cancer (e.g., infections can cause the same symptoms), but it is better to be safe than sorry.

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