Cancer warning sign – when to see GP over mouth ulcers that won’t heal

Oral cancers, if caught early enough, have a 50 per cent survival rate – but spotting the early warning signs is essential to the prevention and treatment of the disease

Catching mouth cancers early can make all the difference when it comes to boosting survival rates and your long-term health.

With more than 4,000 Brits dying of the disease each year, knowing the early warning signs for this common cancer is important.

If caught early, over half of all such cancers are survivable. However, many of the symptoms can resemble common dental complaints, such as an abscess or unexpected bleeding, making it difficult to know whether to visit your dentist or GP.

The Mouth Cancer Foundation says that paying close attention to changes in our mouth is important: “The earlier cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. That is why every adult should examine themselves at least once a month for lumps or changes in the skin and mouth even when there is no discomfort.”

The charity says that, if you are worried about any of the following symptoms, it is important to speak to your dental or healthcare professional to express your concerns. However, it should be noted that many will ask you to return only if your symptoms persist for two to three weeks.

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The symptoms to keep an eye out for are:

• Ulcers that do not heal for three weeks
• Pain or discomfort in the mouth
• Lumps and swellings in the mouth or neck with no obvious cause
• Blood coming from your mouth or throat
• Red and white patches inside your mouth
• Change in oral texture, hardness
• Teeth becoming loose
• Difficulty swallowing or moving the jaw
• Persistent hoarseness
• A long-term cough where something is “stuck” in your throat
• Nub or tingling tongue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Dentures that no longer fit

Though this list of early warning symptoms might seem long, it is important to remember that many of these ailments could come about as a result of general wear and tear.

The foundation explained: “We bite ourselves, burn ourselves with hot food and drink and damage the inside of our mouths with spicy foods or scrape it with hard things.

“Bleeding gums and loose teeth are commonly caused by gum disease. Many people are prone to mouth ulcers (never lasting more than three weeks).”

Experiencing just one of these issues is not likely to be cancer but, if symptoms such as these continue for more than two weeks, or they start to worry you, the Mouth Cancer Foundation recommends speaking to a professional, who might refer you for further tests.

Though this can be worrying, only 10 per cent of these routine checks will result in a positive cancer diagnosis. So, if you are referred for a test know that it is all part of detecting cancer’s early warning signs.