Experiences with
Mouth cancer

SymptomsDiagnosisMedical treatmentsCauses

Symptoms of mouth cancer can include a mouth ulcer that does not go away after 3 weeks, a red or white patch in the mouth, or a lump in the mouth.

The main tests for mouth cancer are removing and testing a sample of tissue from your mouth (biopsy), an X-ray and scans such as a CT scan.

Treatment for mouth cancer may include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted medicines and immunotherapy.

It’s not always clear why mouth cancer happens, but it can be caused by genetic changes, your lifestyle, and some medical conditions.

Main symptoms of mouth cancer

Symptoms of mouth cancer can affect any part of your mouth including the gums, tongue, inside the cheeks, or lips.

Symptoms can include:

a mouth ulcer in your mouth that lasts more than 3 weeks
a red or white patch inside your mouth
a lump inside your mouth or on your lip
pain inside your mouth
difficulty swallowing
difficulty speaking or a hoarse (croaky) voice
a lump in your neck or throat
losing weight without trying

Early stage mouth cancer can look like a mouth ulcer.

White patches on the tongue or inside your mouth may be early symptoms of mouth cancer.

you have an mouth ulcer that has lasted more than 3 weeks
you have a lump in your mouth, on your lip, on your neck or in your throat
you have a red or white patch in your mouth
you have pain in your mouth that's not going away
you're having difficulty swallowing or speaking
you have a hoarse (croaky) voice that does not go away

A dentist can also help with ulcers, lumps, patches or pain in your mouth.

Who is more likely to get mouth cancer

It's not always clear what causes mouth cancer.

You may be more likely to get mouth cancer if:

you smoke or chew tobacco, betel nut or paan
you drink a lot of alcohol
you have leukoplakia
you’ve been exposed to a lot of sunlight or sunbeds, which can cause skin cancer affecting the lips
you've had cancer before
you have a weakened immune system, for example, you have HIV or AIDS, or take immunosuppressant medicine

Mouth cancer has also been linked to having changes in your genes and having some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in your mouth.

How to lower your risk of mouth cancer

You cannot always prevent mouth cancer, but there are things you can do to lower your chance of getting it.

eat a healthy diet, including 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
exercise regularly
try to cut down on alcohol and avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
try to quit smoking
try to quit chewing tobacco, betel nut or paan

Main tests for mouth cancer

If a dentist or GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have mouth cancer, you’ll have tests to check for cancer.

The main tests for mouth cancer are usually:

removing a small sample of cells from the affected area of your mouth for testing (a biopsy)
an X-ray, ultrasound scan, CT scan or MRI scan

Main treatments for mouth cancer

The treatment you'll have for mouth cancer depends on:

the size of the cancer
where the cancer is
if it has spread to other parts of your body
if the cancer has certain genetic changes
your age and general health

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines and immunotherapy.

Your specialist treatment team will:

explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
work with you to make a treatment plan that’s best for you
help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

Where to find help and support

If you have mouth cancer, your specialist treatment team will be there to support you throughout your treatment. They will also be able to give you information about local support services you may find helpful.

There are also national cancer charities that can offer support and information about mouth cancer.