Detecting Oral Cancer: What You Need to Know
Oral cancer can be a scary thought, so it is important to know how to detect it. Early detection is key to successful treatment, and there are several methods for detecting oral cancer.
In this blog post, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of oral cancer as well as the tests that can be used to diagnose it.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
The first step in detecting oral cancer is identifying any signs or symptoms that may point towards its presence. Common symptoms include
unexplained bleeding in the mouth,
pain when swallowing,
lumps or sores in the mouth that don’t heal after 2 weeks,
white or red patches on the tongue or gums,
difficulty speaking or moving the jaw, and
a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down.
If you experience any of these signs or symptoms for an extended period of time, it is important to visit your Expert Oral Cancer Doctor as soon as possible.
Tests for Diagnosing Oral Cancer
If your doctor suspects that you may have oral cancer, they will likely order one or more tests to confirm their diagnosis. This may include
A physical exam where your doctor looks at your mouth for any abnormalities;
An X-ray which allows them to see inside your mouth;
A CT scan which gives them a more detailed image of both the inside and outside of your mouth;
And/or an endoscopy where a thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted into your throat so they can look directly at affected areas.
Additionally, they may take a biopsy sample from any suspicious area in order to determine if it contains cancerous cells.
Detecting oral cancer early on is essential for successful treatment. Therefore, if you experience any of the signs or symptoms associated with oral cancer—especially when they persist over time—it is important to visit your Oral Cancer Surgeon right away so they can run tests and make an accurate diagnosis. With early detection comes hope for recovery!
