Signs & symptoms

The warning signs of oral cancer are:

• A sore on the lips, mouth or cheek that does not heal in 2 weeks
  
  
• Lingering red or white patches on the gingiva, tongue, tonsil or oral mucosa
  
  
• A lump present on one side of the mouth or cheek
  
  
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
  
  
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  
  
• Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
  
  
• Swelling of the jaw that causes denture to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
  
  
• Persistent ear pain
  
  
• Hoarseness or voice changes
  
  
• A lump or mass in the neck, behind the ear, or under the jawbone