Oral Cancer Awareness Month

by | Apr 12, 2022 | Blog

Mouth cancer can affect 650, 000 people worldwide according to the Mouth Cancer Foundation and according to Eva Grazel, a survivor of oral cancer and motivational speaker, oral cancer kills one American every hour of every day.

Marg happened to run into @evagrayzel after a conference in AZ a few years back and she would tell you that she felt like she met a celebrity. Eva is full of life!

Be aware of these potential early warning signs:

  • 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 your 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 the 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

Many of these signs and symptoms can also be caused by diseases other than cancer, or even by other cancers. Still, it’s very important to see a doctor or dentist if any of these conditions last more than 2 weeks so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed.