When you hear from your dentist that you may have the symptoms of oral cancer, they usually refer you to us. As an oral surgeon, we regularly look at symptoms that could be oral cancer. When oral cancer is caught early on, it is far easier to treat than if it goes untreated for a while.
The best ways to catch oral cancer as early as possible includes seeing your dentist every six months, plus knowing what signs to be on the lookout for. Here are the top three signs you should be on the lookout for.
Signs Your Mouth May Have Oral Cancer
The first sign of oral cancer that you should be aware of are lumps or bumps in your mouth. A lump where you may have bitten your cheek is fine, so long as it goes away after a few days. However, lumps that stick around, shift in size, or keep growing, are ones to be aware of.
The next sign to be mindful of is patches of skin inside your mouth that change in texture. This can be small lumps, unusually smooth, rough and gritty, or even leathery. If you notice these, keep track of the area’s size and come in to get it checked out.
Finally, the third sign of oral cancer to be mindful of is sores or lesions in your mouth that do not want to heal. Again, if you have bitten your cheek or recently burned your mouth, this may not be anything. Aside from those issues, this is not normal.
If you notice any of these signs, it is important that you call our office and come in. We can look and see what’s going on, and figure out what the next step of treatment would be for you.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (775) 430-5355 today.
