Key Symptoms of Mouth Cancer to Watch For

3. A White Or Red Patch Inside The Mouth

When areas of cells are abnormal, they can appear to be white or red. The white patches are known as leukoplakia, whereas the red patches are referred to as erythroplakia. Although these patches are not necessarily cancer, if left untreated, they can develop into mouth cancer. Since they can be precancerous, catching them early could prevent the spread of abnormal, cancerous cells. Only about five percent of individuals with leukoplakia develop cancer, whereas approximately fifty percent of red patches become cancerous. To test these patches, doctors take a biopsy of the affected area. In many cases, a fungal infection is to blame, which can be treated.

4. A Lump in the Neck

A lump developing in an individual's neck could indicate an enlarged lymph node., which is a common warning sign in both mouth and oropharyngeal cancers. If the lump is red, hot, or painful, it could mean an infection has developed and it is probably not cancerous. The same is true for lumps that come and go. When a lump is cancerous, it generally forms and grows slowly. Some individuals also experience a lump on their lip, in their mouth, or throat.