It is crucial to spot signs of head and neck cancer as early as possible, as medical experts say it is treatable if caught quickly.
There are a handful of warning signs you can keep an eye out for to give you the best chance of beating the illness. Mouth cancer is even preventable, providing you ensure the best oral hygiene you can and give up smoking.
The Oral Health Foundation says the best way to "save your life" is to keep watch on the overall health of your mouth closely. Mouth cancer can also be detected and checked by a dentist as well as a doctor, with both being trained in the identification of it.
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If the disease is caught early, patients have a 90 percent survival rate. T he Mirror reports nine in 10 cases are treatable by surgery and four early warning signs to look out for have been shared by the Oral Health Foundation. Anyone with these symptoms should consult a doctor or a dentist immediately:
- Ulcers that take longer than three weeks to heal
- Unusual red or white patches
- Lumps around your neck and jaw
- Persistent hoarseness of the throat
Quitting smoking and cutting down on drinking are two lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of mouth cancer, according to NHS advice. Consuming a healthy and balanced diet can also reduce the risk.
Treatments for mouth cancer include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery involves the removal of cancerous cells along with a bit of the surrounding tissue to ensure all the disease is removed. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used together, depending on the diagnosis and treatment plan.
