Mouth Cancer Symptoms

Cancer is the deadliest affliction that anyone can get…it starts as an abnormal growth of cells, that leads to a tumor and can quite often be deadly. Mouth cancer can be cancer of the lip, tongue, gums and floor of the mouth. Though not so common but it can occur on the inside of the cheeks and the palate. Mouth cancer more often than not results from the use of tobacco. And do not be misguided into think that just because you are now smoking pipes instead of cigarettes, using snuff or chewing tobacco, is going to reduce your chances of mouth cancer. Chewing tobacco and keeping it in one corner of the mouth for long periods of time results in a pre-cancerous condition called leukoplakia. Other causes of mouth cancer include consumption of spirits, badly fitted dentures; poor oral care, chewing on betel nut o betel leaf. Another major cause of mouth cancer is the combination of smoking and alcoholism.

Mouth Cancer Symptoms

There are certain symptoms by which mouth cancer can be identified. Basically there are two common symptoms of mouth cancer.

• More than 80 percent of the people diagnosed with mouth cancer had an ulcer in the mouth that did not heal.
• And a discomfort, burning or pain in the mouth that is persistent.

There are other symptoms as well. These are listed below:

• Patches that are red or white in the mouth or the throat region that refuse to go.
• A lump in the mouth or throat or a thickening in the lip.
• Swallowing becomes difficult because of discomfort or pain.
• Throat irritation or sensation of something being stuck.
• Random bleeding and numbness in the mouth.
• Teeth start falling for no particular reason.
• Jaw becomes tight and difficult to move.
• Problems in talking and speech.
• Unusual node or lump in the neck.
• Sudden weight loss.
• Bad breath, which is a condition, called halitosis.

Mouth Cancer symptoms explained

Here are some of the mouth cancer symptoms explained:

• Red or white patches: any patch that appears randomly and is red or white in color could be a mouth cancer symptom. The white patches in the mouth are called leukoplakia and the red patches are called erythroplakia, which are pre-cancerous conditions. Though these red or white patches are not always cancerous, it could be the result of a fungal infection called thrush. Thrush will lead to a red patch after the white patch disappears, but it can be cured with treatments.
• Difficulty in swallowing: when there is pain, discomfort or burning while chewing and swallowing, you could have mouth cancer. It can also feel like there is something stuck in your throat that you cannot get down. But this does not always mean you have mouth cancer. It could also be the result of stricture, which is the narrowing of the food pipe or esophagus. It is always to get this checked out by a doctor to rule out cancer or diagnose it and get treatment started immediately.
• Problem with talking or speech: if you have mouth cancer, one of its symptoms is going to be difficulty in talking. Your voice will sound different and huskier. There can also be some slurring and trouble pronouncing.
• Persistent lump in the neck: if you find a lump in your neck which could be the result of enlarged lymph node, it needs to checked out immediately. But if the lump is red, painful and oozes then it indicates an infection rather than cancer.
• Weight loss: sudden and drastic weight loss is a sign of any form of cancer. If you lose more than 10 pounds without any apparent reason such as exercising and dieting, it is best to get it checked out with a doctor.
• Halitosis: everyone has bad breath at some point, this doesn’t mean cancer. But persistent bad breath or halitosis is a sign of mouth cancer.

Not all symptoms result in cancer; so before you get all worked up, get yourself checked by a doctor.