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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

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikato dermnetnz.Org 2023

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

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.Org 2023

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:

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

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.

Potential Warning Signs Of Cancer You May Overlook

While several types of cancer are preventable, cancer is one of the major causes of deaths in India. As per research, in India, one in nine people are likely to develop cancer in his/her lifetime. Early detection of cancer has made its treatment possible with a good success rate. Hence, it is extremely important to recognise the warning signs of cancer to prevent its development.

To know warning signs of cancer that are majorly overlooked, OnlyMyHealth team interacted with Dr Indu Bansal Aggarwal, Radiation Oncologist, Paras Healthcare, Gurugram.

Warning Signs Of Cancer

Dr Bansal helped us list down warning signs of cancer which are commonly neglected leading to the development of cancer giving rise to grave consequences.

1. Change In Bowel Movements

One of the most unnoticed symptoms of cancer according to Dr Bansal is change in bowel movements. In the fast-paced world, it is difficult to notice changing bowel movements. Dr Bansal said, "Changes in bowel movements like pain while passing stool, constipation that does not go away, or bleeding in stools, can be symptoms of colon cancer, colorectal cancer, Anal cancer or gallbladder cancer."

2. A Sore That Does Not Heal

Dr Bansal shed light on a very unheard symptom of cancer, an unhealed sore. It is advisable to not overlook the sore and immediately visit your doctor for further diagnosis.

Also read: Age Spots Or Skin Cancer: How To Differentiate Between The Two?

3. Change In Urine Patterns

A developing cancer can lead to symptoms like frequent urination, burning pain while urinating, urination more than usual, or blood in urine can be a few symptoms of cancer. Dr Bansal said, "Change in urinary pattern is a common symptom for several types of cancer, so restrain from neglecting these small changes in your urine and contact your doctor for further diagnosis."

4. Unusual Discharge Or Bleeding

Explaining the symptom, Dr Bansal said, "Unusual bleeding from nose, mouth, poop, post menopausal bleeding and even vaginal bleeding shouldn't be neglected. Anal bleeding can denote colon or colorectal cancer, bleeding from mouth or gums can be a sign of gum cancer, urine blood can denote bladder cancer, and nose bleeding can indicate nasal or sinus cancer." These were just a few examples explained by Dr Bansal but if you experience unusual bleeding from any other part of your body, rush to your doctor to decipher the diagnosis.

5. Unusual Lump

Any persistent lump or swelling should not be left undiagnosed as it can be a warning sign of cancer. Dr Bansal said, "In my practice, I have seen many women coming to me having a lump in their breast since a very long time but they say, as it did not hurt, they did not get it checked. Most of the time, this non-painful lump turns out to be cancer. I urge people to not ignore lumps not only in the breast but anywhere in the body as it can be a sign of cancer."

Also read: Expert Recommendation: Cancer Screenings For Every Age Group

Listing other symptoms which can possibly result in cancer, Dr Bansal said, "Difficulty in swallowing can be symptom of throat cancer. Chronic acidity or unwillingness to eat anything are overlooked most of the time but it can point to ovarian cancer. Lung cancer can be indicated through symptoms like change in voice and chest pain. Unexplained anemia is another warning sign of cancer which is commonly neglected."

Bottomline

Cancer is a preventable disease if it is diagnosed early. The above mentioned symptoms are commonly overlooked and delay in diagnosis of any type of cancer can be fatal. If you experience any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to immediately visit a doctor.

Disclaimer

All possible measures have been taken to ensure accuracy, reliability, timeliness and authenticity of the information; however Onlymyhealth.Com does not take any liability for the same. Using any information provided by the website is solely at the viewers' discretion. In case of any medical exigencies/ persistent health issues, we advise you to seek a qualified medical practitioner before putting to use any advice/tips given by our team or any third party in form of answers/comments on the above mentioned website.

Strep Throat: How Serious Can It Get?

What is strep throat?

In most cases, infections caused by group A strep can lead to mild illness with common symptoms such as sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes and tonsils.

Following a tragic story out of Arizona where a 7-year-old girl had to have several amputations after she was diagnosed with strep throat (group A strep) earlier this month, many parents might be questioning how serious this fairly common infection can actually get.

Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria known as group A streptococcus, or streptococcus pyogenes, according to Yale Medicine.

Children are at greater risk of contracting this infection, however, preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from fall of 2023 showed an increase in infections among adults, particularly those aged 65 and older.

"Preliminary data indicate invasive group A strep infections remained high through April 2023, declined during the summer, and then increased again in the fall," the website read.

Overall numbers of people who were infected with group A strep will exceed those of 2022, the CDC predicted.

It is estimated that several million cases of group A strep illnesses occur each year in the U.S., according to the CDC.

FILE - Child having their throat checked by a doctor. (Getty)

How serious can strep throat become?

In most cases, infections caused by group A strep can lead to mild illness with common symptoms such as sore throat, pain when swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes and tonsils.

However, if a strep infection goes untreated, the bacteria will often wreak havoc on your kidneys, causing swelling, blood in urine, and joint pain. If the infection goes this far, you will need to be watched closely to ensure that the medicine is working effectively.

In other undiagnosed cases, the strep infection can spread to major areas such as the skin, heart, blood, and nervous system. Some people progress on to such illnesses as scarlet fever, meningitis, or even toxic shock. Again, these extreme cases are rare, especially if the infection is treated at the first onset of symptoms.

Typically, a person who is infected with strep can and will be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider.

For some people, recurrent strep throat might prompt health care providers to suggest having the tonsils removed via a tonsillectomy.

In one extreme case out of Arizona, a 7-year-old girl underwent eight surgeries and had both feet and her right hand amputated after battling a group strep A illness.

The parents of Victoria Pasten-Morales said everything started with a fever and pain, followed by vomiting within a span of 12 hours.

"Everything happened very fast," Obdulia Morales, the child's parent, told FOX 10 Phoenix.

The infection impacted Victoria's kidney and lungs and while she is awake, she is on a ventilator.

Their message to other parents: take the little things seriously before it's too late.

How contagious is strep?

Strep is highly contagious, according to the CDC. The illness spreads to other people via respiratory droplets or direct contact.

It usually takes about two to five days after exposure to become sick with strep.

As mentioned before, strep is more common among children, but adults can get it too.

It is also worth noting that a person can be infected with strep but have no symptoms.

They are called strep carriers, according to the CDC, and generally, they do not need any antibiotics. They are also less likely to spread the bacteria.

Strep symptoms

Common symptoms of strep throat include:

Fever

Pain when swallowing

Sore throat that started very quickly

Throat, tonsils look red and swollen

White patches or streaks of pus on tonsils

Tiny, red spots on roof of mouth called petechiae

Swollen lymph nodes in the front of neck

FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.

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