Mouth Cancer Check
Oral cancer can impact any part of the mouth, including the tongue and lips. The most common symptoms are having a sore or ulcer for more than three weeks. You should see your dentist or doctor if you have any symptoms in your mouth that are unusual. The outlook for people with mouth cancer is very good if it is diagnosed early.
It is time to start seeing your dentist regularly, become familiar with your mouth and learn about the symptoms that mouth cancer can present. Then, if at any time you notice something out of the ordinary you will know whether you need to get referred to a specialist immediately.
Do people die from mouth cancer?
Yes. Over 1,800 people in the UK die from mouth cancer every year. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the cancer was caught early enough. As it is, people with mouth cancer are more likely to die than those having cervical cancer or melanoma skin cancer
Regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triples the risk of developing mouth cancer, a government campaign will warn.
Television adverts will aim to show that drinking just over the recommended daily limit for alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems.
NHS recommendations are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day, while women should not regularly drink more than two to three.
Signs of mouth cancer
Often, signs and symptoms of mouth cancer are not painful. The most common signs are:
an ulcer or sore in your mouth or on your tongue
a red or white patch in your mouth
an unexplained pain in your mouth or ear.
Other signs to look out for are:
an unexplained lump in your neck
a sore or painful throat
a croaky voice or difficulty swallowing.
If you notice any of these symptoms and they last for more than three weeks, ask your doctor or your dentist to have a look at your mouth. They might be able to reassure you, or they might send you along to the hospital to have something checked out.
The majority of the people who have something like this checked out dont actually have mouth cancer. If you have any of the symptoms then see your doctor or dentist as soon as possible. It probably wont be cancer, but its better to be on the safe side.
What to do if you are worried
If you have any of these symptoms at all you must go to your doctor or dentist and they will refer you to your regional oral and maxillofacial cancer surgeon. This will be done with a special form which guarantees you an appointment in under two weeks. When you are seen you will get a complete examination. You may need a biopsy, which involves removing some tissue from the abnormal area so it can be examined under a microscope.
It is time to start seeing your dentist regularly, become familiar with your mouth and learn about the symptoms that mouth cancer can present. Then, if at any time you notice something out of the ordinary you will know whether you need to get referred to a specialist immediately.
Do people die from mouth cancer?
Yes. Over 1,800 people in the UK die from mouth cancer every year. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the cancer was caught early enough. As it is, people with mouth cancer are more likely to die than those having cervical cancer or melanoma skin cancer
Regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triples the risk of developing mouth cancer, a government campaign will warn.
Television adverts will aim to show that drinking just over the recommended daily limit for alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems.
NHS recommendations are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day, while women should not regularly drink more than two to three.
Signs of mouth cancer
Often, signs and symptoms of mouth cancer are not painful. The most common signs are:
an ulcer or sore in your mouth or on your tongue
a red or white patch in your mouth
an unexplained pain in your mouth or ear.
Other signs to look out for are:
an unexplained lump in your neck
a sore or painful throat
a croaky voice or difficulty swallowing.
If you notice any of these symptoms and they last for more than three weeks, ask your doctor or your dentist to have a look at your mouth. They might be able to reassure you, or they might send you along to the hospital to have something checked out.
The majority of the people who have something like this checked out dont actually have mouth cancer. If you have any of the symptoms then see your doctor or dentist as soon as possible. It probably wont be cancer, but its better to be on the safe side.
What to do if you are worried
If you have any of these symptoms at all you must go to your doctor or dentist and they will refer you to your regional oral and maxillofacial cancer surgeon. This will be done with a special form which guarantees you an appointment in under two weeks. When you are seen you will get a complete examination. You may need a biopsy, which involves removing some tissue from the abnormal area so it can be examined under a microscope.
