How Mouth Cancer Looks

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

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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.

Red or White Patches

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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.

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.

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.

Similar, Non-Cancerous Mouth Bumps

Various mouth bumps can appear similar to those that develop in oral cancer but are not. They include:

• Warts
• Canker sores
• Cold 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

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.