You must know that April is the oral cancer awareness month worldwide and you should also play part in spreading this awareness. With the help of right education and early diagnosis, a lot of lives can be saved. If you are not aware of the symptoms of this fatal disease, then here are a few pointers.
Look out for the symptoms
One of the earliest signs of mouth cancer that you should look out for is your own mouth. It starts from there and then spreads to the rest of your body. Therefore, if you feel like anything is changing in your mouth, you should visit a dentist immediately. If your symptoms don’t improve after a few visits, then it is definitely an alarming sign. Here are a few symptoms that you should look out for:
- A sore that doesn’t go away with time.
- If you feel tenderness or numbness in your mouth or lips or if you observe any white or red lumps.
- If you have observed that it has become difficult for you to swallow or chew. Or if you feel like choking without any reason. In many cases, patients also complain of difficulty in speaking.
- If you feel like the way your teeth close is different than it previously was.
Although these symptoms might indicate a simple problem but if the symptoms persist for longer durations, then it is an alarming sign.
Factors that increase your risk of getting cancer
There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of the oral cancer. However, in the recent years, it has been noticed that most of the people who develop oral cancer are either drinkers, smokers or are older than 50 years of age. However, due to the sexually transmitted diseases, it has become common in a lot of youngsters as well. Therefore, if you are experiencing a sore throat or have difficulty in swallowing, then you should definitely get yourself checked.
