Oral Cancer Screening
Self-Examination
Early Detection is Key
Be on the lookout for:
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
- A mass or lump in the neck.
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
- A mouth sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
- An abnormal lump or thickening of tissues.
- Erythroleukoplakia: red and white patches of the oral tissues.
- Erythroplakia: red patches of the oral tissues.
- Leukoplakia: white patches of the oral tissues.
TO CARRY OUT THE MOUTH TEST, THE FOLLOWING WILL BE REQUIRED:
Mirror
Clean Fingers
Good Light Source
Ask a Friend to Check
Perform this 6-step oral cancer self-exam each month.
Using a bright light and a mirror:
- Remove any dentures.
- Look and feel inside your lips and the front of your gums.
- Tilt your head back to inspect and feel the roof of your mouth.
- Pull your cheek out to inspect it and the gums in the back.
- Pull out your tongue and look at its top and bottom.
- Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes (glands) in both sides of your neck, including under the lower jaw.