Seven early signs of oral cancer you should never ignore

India carries roughly a third of the world's oral cancer burden, driven largely by tobacco chewing, gutkha, bidi smoking and areca nut. The good news is that the mouth is easy to examine. Most oral cancers can be seen or felt long before they spread, which makes early detection a realistic goal for every family.

The warning signs

1. An ulcer that will not heal. Any mouth ulcer lasting more than two to three weeks needs to be examined.
2. White or red patches. Leukoplakia (white) and erythroplakia (red) are pre-cancerous changes. Red patches carry a higher risk.
3. A lump or thickening in the cheek, tongue, gums or neck.
4. Pain or difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue or jaw.
5. Loose teeth or dentures that suddenly stop fitting.
6. Numbness in the tongue, lip or any area of the mouth.
7. Reduced mouth opening (trismus), especially in areca nut users, which can indicate oral submucous fibrosis, a pre-cancerous condition.

Who should be checked regularly?

Anyone who uses tobacco or areca nut in any form should have their mouth examined every six months by a dentist or doctor. A simple visual inspection under good light takes less than two minutes.

What happens if something is found?

A small biopsy under local anaesthesia confirms the diagnosis. Early-stage oral cancer is usually treated with surgery alone, often as a day-care or short-stay procedure, with excellent cure rates and little effect on speech or eating. The later the stage, the more extensive the surgery and the more likely that radiation will also be needed.

If you or a family member has any of these signs, do not wait for it to go away on its own. Book a consultation and get it checked.