Head & Neck Oncology Program

Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of lip and oral cancer sometimes resemble those of other conditions or problems, so it is important to see a physician to get an accurate diagnosis. Often lip and oral cavity cancers are found by dentists during routine examinations. The symptoms of oral cavity cancer include the following:

A sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
A lump on the lip or in the mouth or throat
A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth
A sore throat that does not go away
Feeling as if something is caught in the throat
Pain or difficulty in swallowing or chewing
Swelling of the jaw
Change in voice
Pain in the ear
Change in fit of dentures

If a patient has symptoms of lip or oral cavity cancer, the doctor will examine the patient’s mouth using a mirror and lights and may also order X-rays of the mouth. If the doctor finds tissue that is not normal, he or she will need to cut out a small piece of the tissue and look at it under the microscope to see if it contains any cancer cells. This procedure is called a biopsy. The patient is given a local anesthetic to eliminate any feeling of pain during the procedure.

The doctor will also feel the throat for lumps. If necessary, the patient may be placed under a general anesthetic (asleep) so that the doctor can do a very thorough examination of areas of the head and neck.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment for lip and oral cavity cancer depend on where the cancer is in the lip or mouth, whether the cancer is just in the lip or mouth or has spread to other tissues (the stage), and the patient’s general health.

This page was last updated on: March 3, 2008.