Signs/Symptoms

There are various signs and symptoms associated with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. They include:

• A sore in the mouth that does not heal (most common symptom);
• Persistent pain in the mouth (also very common);
• A persistent lump or thickening in the cheek;
• A persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth;
• A persistent sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat;
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing;
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue;
• Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth;
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable;
• Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw;
• Voice changes;
• A lump or mass in the neck;
• Weight loss;
• Persistent bad breath