Symptoms:

• An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks.
• A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks.
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue.
• Numbness of tongue or other area of the mouth.
• A feeling that something is caught in the throat.
• A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persists more than 6 weeks.
• Unexplained loosening of teeth.

Risk Factors:

• Tobacco use is the main cause of mouth cancer. This includes shisha smoking, and chewing tobacco such as Paan/Betel Nut.
• Drinking alcohol to excess can increase risks four-fold.
• Drinking and smoking together can make mouth cancer up to 30 times more likely to develop.
• Poor diet and social deprivation are linked to a third of all cancer cases.
• The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), transmitted through oral sex, could overtake tobacco and alcohol as the main risk factor within the next decade.
• Exposure to the sun is a cause of skin cancer which can affect the lips and face.

Information obtained from Mouth Cancer Foundation, and correct at time of publishing.