Mouth and Lip Cancer

The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign of a possible problem, the most serious being oral cancer.

What to look for

We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly, checking your mouth for suspicious lumps and sores. Remember that your mouth is one of your body's most important warning systems.

• Reddish patches or whitish patches in the mouth
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• A lump or thickening of the skin lining inside the mouth
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

These changes may be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.