Symptoms

Symptoms of oral cancer may include:

• Patches inside your mouth or on your lips:
  • White patches (leukoplakia) are the most common. White patches sometimes become malignant.
  • Mixed red and white patches (erythroleukoplakia) are more likely than white patches to become malignant.
  • Red patches (erythroplakia) are brightly colored, smooth areas that often become malignant.
• A sore on your lip or in your mouth that doesn't heal
• Bleeding in your mouth
• Loose teeth
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• A lump in your neck
• An earache that doesn't go away
• Numbness of lower lip and chin

Most often, these symptoms are not from oral cancer. Another health problem can cause them. Anyone with these symptoms should tell their doctor or dentist so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.