What does mouth cancer feel like at first?

A lump or thickening in the cheek. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth. A sore throat or persistent feeling that something is caught in the throat. Difficulty swallowing or chewing.

How do you detect mouth cancer?

The following tests may be used to diagnose oral or oropharyngeal cancer:

1. Physical examination. Dentists and doctors often find lip and oral cavity cancers during routine checkups.
2. Endoscopy.
3. Biopsy.
4. Oral brush biopsy.
5. HPV testing.
6. X-ray.
7. Barium swallow/modified barium swallow.
8. Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan.

How quickly does mouth cancer develop?

Fact: Most cases of oral cancer are found in patients 50 years or older because this form of the disease often takes many years to develop. However, the number of cases linked to HPV and oral cancer has risen over the years and is putting younger people at a greater risk.

What are the beginning signs of mouth cancer?

Often, the earliest sign of the presence of mouth cancer is a change in the way the mouth looks. For instance, a person with this type of cancer could experience swelling or thickening of the mouth, especially in the cheek area. Sometimes, discolored patches of mouth tissue indicate the presence of cancer as well.

What are the stages of mouth cancer?

The earliest stage oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers are called stage 0 (carcinoma in situ), and then range from stages I (1) through IV (4). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means cancer has spread more.

What do early stages of oral cancer look like?

In the early stages, mouth cancer rarely causes any pain. Abnormal cell growth usually appears as flat patches. A canker sore looks like an ulcer, usually with a depression in the center. The middle of the canker sore may appear white, gray, or yellow, and the edges are red.

What are the stages of oral cancer?

There are four stages of oral cancer. Stage 1: The tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) or smaller, and the cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. Stage 2: The tumor is between 2-4 cm, and cancer cells haven’t spread to the lymph nodes.