How Mouth Cancer Looks
Pictures and symptoms to know
Medically reviewed by Brian T. Luong, DMD
Mouth or oral cancer can cause a lot of different physical symptoms, including ulcers, discolored patches, and lumps. The appearance of oral cancer in the mouth can differ depending on the stage.
This article discusses what mouth cancer looks like and how you can self-screen for this type of cancer at home.
Physical Symptoms and Appearance of Mouth Cancer
Physical signs of oral cancer can develop anywhere in the oral cavity but are most likely to occur on the top or sides of the tongue, lower lip, or the floor of the mouth.
Various physical symptoms will develop when someone has mouth cancer, such as:
Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers are open sores that develop in the early stages of oral cancer. Though ulcers can develop in the mouth for many reasons, if they last more than three weeks without healing, they may be a sign of cancer.
These ulcers can sometimes resemble canker sores, which are visually similar. That is why it’s essential to know the difference between the two. A canker sore will likely be flat and have red and inflamed edges, whereas a mouth cancer ulcer will not. It will be a small, raised lump.
Canker sores are also quite painful, but in the early stages of mouth cancer when ulcers develop, there is little to no pain at all.
Best Way to Tell the Difference Between Canker Sores and Cancer Ulcers
To distinguish between the two, you will want to assess pain levels and how long they take to heal. Cankers will be painful and heal on their own within two or three weeks. Mouth cancer ulcers, however, last longer and are unlikely to cause discomfort.
Learn More: Canker Sore vs. Cancer: What Are the Differences?
Red or White Patches
Changes to the coloration of your tongue will develop if you have oral cancer. They will either be white or red. The white patches are known as leukoplakia that occur on the mucous membrane of the mouth, gums, or tongue. The red patches, known as erythroplasia, can appear on the gums, tongue, or mouth lining.
Leukoplakia patches are typically rough to the touch, irregular in shape, and slightly raised. They cannot be rubbed or scraped away like other white patches in the mouth caused by conditions such as oral thrush. The red patches will be vibrant and look almost like velvet. Though not all red, velvety patches in the mouth are cancerous, roughly 75% to 90% of these lesions develop into carcinomas.
Are the Patches Painful?
The red and white patches that develop in oral cancer are typically painless. You cannot “feel” the cancerous patches in the mouth. You can only see them when they develop.
Related: Normal Tongue vs. Oral Thrush and Other Conditions
Lumps in the Mouth
Small masses or lumps can develop on the lips or in the mouth or throat when someone has oral cancer. Like other types of cancer masses, they tend to get bigger over time.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Another physical sign of oral cancer is swollen lymph nodes. When lymph nodes in the neck begin to swell due to cancer, they will form a mass.
The mass will be soft and round, ranging anywhere from the size of a pea to the size of a grape. In the case of cancer, these growths will come on slowly and cause no pain.
Will I Experience Any Pain if I Have Mouth Cancer?
Though the lesions and masses that form in the mouth due to oral cancer are typically painless, you may feel general pain or discomfort in the mouth. Unusual bleeding or numbness may accompany this.
How Mouth Cancer Looks in Different Stages
The appearance of oral cancer may differ depending on the stage. In its early stages, you may notice a single ulcer or small patches of white or red.
As the cancer grows and spreads, the lesions may become more prominent, and any masses may continue to grow as well. When it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, you will likely notice swelling or a mass in the neck area.
Self-Exam: Could I Have Mouth Cancer?
Regular dental screenings are a great way to stay on top of your oral health and check for mouth cancer. However, there are ways to self-screen at home to see if anything requires medical attention.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons suggests performing a monthly oral self-exam. You will want to get a large enough mirror and a light for the exam. The steps for performing the exam are as follows:
Remove oral appliances, such as dentures.
Look and feel inside your mouth, including the lips and the front of the gums.
Look and feel the roof of your mouth by tilting your head back in front of the mirror.
Pull out your cheeks to check for signs of oral cancer on the inside surface of your mouth and the back of your gums.
Pull out your tongue and examine it in its entirety to check for ulcers or patches.
Feel for lumps or enlarged masses in the neck and lower jawline.
Screening Exam With Your Doctor
There is no official screening process for oral cancer, but your dentist or other oral healthcare provider can help determine if any changes in your mouth are a result of oral cancer. In the meantime, performing the self-exam once a month can help keep track of changes, allowing you to catch oral cancer early if you develop it.
Learn More: How Oral Cancer Is Diagnosed
Similar, Non-Cancerous Mouth Bumps
Various mouth bumps can appear similar to those that develop in oral cancer but are not. They include:
Canker sores
Thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth
Torus, a bony growth in the roof of the mouth or lower jaw area
Mucocele, which are soft cyst- and bubble-like swellings that occur on the gums, the roof of the mouth, underneath the tongue, or inside the lower lip
Fibromas, which are firm, round, and smooth lumps that develop on the inner lining of the cheek or the lips
Lichen planus, which is an inflammatory condition that can affect the mouth and is characterized by lacy patches of small white dots in the mouth
Frictional hyperkeratosis, which is a white-colored thickening of the lining of the mouth
Telling the Difference
Distinguishing the myriad conditions that can cause mouth symptoms is often difficult. Knowing what cancerous lesions and bumps look like so you can rule them out during a self-exam is crucial.
Read Next: How Oral Cancer Is Treated
If Uncertain, See a Healthcare Provider
If you notice signs of oral cancer after a self-exam, seeing a healthcare provider is essential. You can see your primary care physician, dentist, or oral medicine specialist. Even if you’re not sure, it’s better to be safe when there’s a chance that cancer may have developed. Other symptoms of mouth cancer that will not be visible include:
General pain or discomfort in the mouth
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Difficulty speaking or having a hoarse or croaky voice
Unintentional weight loss
Unusual bleeding in the mouth
Numbness in the mouth
A sore throat that doesn’t go away
Feeling as though something is constantly caught in your throat
Jaw swelling
An earache that doesn’t go away
These signs may not develop all at once, but experiencing any of them with lesions or lumps in the mouth warrants a trip to your healthcare provider. They may order a biopsy (a removal and analysis of tissue cells) to identify any cancerous elements.
Summary
Oral cancer can sometimes be difficult to spot because the bumps and symptoms are similar to those that develop as a result of other benign conditions. Because of that, knowing what to look for when examining yourself for oral cancer is vital. People should perform oral cancer self-exams once a month because oral cancer is highly treatable when caught early.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.