Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers might cause a variety of signs and symptoms, depending on where the cancer is located.

Possible signs and symptoms

Oral cavity (mouth) and oropharyngeal (throat) cancers might cause one or more of these signs or symptoms:

• A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn't heal
• Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
• A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, or cheek
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn’t go away
• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
• Numbness of the tongue, lip, or other area of the mouth
• Swelling or pain in the jaw
• Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• Loosening of teeth or pain around the teeth
• Voice changes
• A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
• Weight loss
• Pain in the ear

When to see a doctor

Many of the signs and symptoms of mouth and throat cancers can also be caused by other diseases, or even by other cancers. But if any of these conditions last more than a few weeks, it’s very important to see a doctor or dentist so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.