Oral Cancer: When To Call A Doctor

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When to Call a Doctor

Call your doctor if you have one or more of the following symptoms longer than 2 weeks without explanation:

• A sore in your mouth that bleeds easily and does not heal
• A lump or thickening in your cheek that you can feel with your tongue
• A white or red patch on your gums, your tongue, or the lining of your mouth
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat
• Unexplained difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue
• Numbness in your tongue or other areas of your mouth
• Swelling in your jaw that makes your dentures fit poorly or causes discomfort

Last updated:	March 15, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC