You can also notice the symptoms of oral cancer yourself – what is important to pay attention to?

Otilija Kutanovaitė, a physician in the Department of Surgery for Head, Neck and Skin Tumors of the National Cancer Institute, emphasizes that both patients and primary care professionals (family doctors, dentists, oral hygienists) are responsible for early or late diagnosis of oral cancer.

“On the one hand, patients often do not see changes in the mouth such as cancer because, for example, they have never heard of a disease of this type or they are simply very afraid, they deny that something is wrong, although they suspect that it is a problem serious illness. There are also cases in which the patient does not consult a doctor for social factors – living in a remote area from where going to the polyclinic is quite complicated, or at that time he abuses psychoactive substances. It is also rare for someone to visit a dentist or hygienist every six months as recommended to maintain oral hygiene. If we follow these recommendations, we will give the specialist the opportunity to evaluate not only the teeth, but also the oral mucosa, perhaps, to discover anticancer changes, ”said O. Kutanovaitė.

The disease can be alerted by a slight and painful hardening of the mucosa or an opaque that does not heal with time but increases. Another important symptom of oral cancer is enlarged lymph nodes in the forearms or neck.

Oral cancer mainly spreads to these lymph nodes, which are closer to the mouth. A malignancy may also be indicated by pain or a feeling that something is stuck in the throat, problems chewing or swallowing, difficulty moving the jaw or tongue, numbness of the tongue or other areas of the mouth, and swelling of the jaw that makes dentures stop or become uncomfortable.

Pharmacist Jovita Juodsnukytė says that when she notices unusual symptoms, clients often worry and delay contacting specialists.

“First of all, many people visit a pharmacy, they hope that this is nothing serious and that they can solve the problem themselves. We always ask how long clients experience these symptoms, if they claim they take some time, we try to encourage them, reassure them and offer to see specialists. We are happy that sometimes we are able to contribute to the early diagnosis of diseases ”, says the pharmacist.

People are encouraged to regularly examine their mouths at home and to pay attention to unusual changes, especially if they notice that these changes have not gone away for some time. Regular visits to the dentist can also contribute to early diagnosis.

People who smoke and drink more often are at higher risk for oral cancer, and quitting harmful habits can also help prevent the disease.

If you notice disturbing symptoms in the mouth or neck area, it is important to immediately consult a doctor as soon as possible, early diagnosis ensures more effective treatment.