Symptoms of oral tumours – any mass in the oral cavity, a soft or hard lump, or a non-healing ulcer that bleeds, causes foul-smelling breath or is possibly painful may indicate an oral tumour.
The oral cavity tumours can obstruct chewing, swallowing and speech.
Tumours of the tongue mainly appear on the side of the tongue and remain painless for a long time. If you notice reddish areas on your tongue, it is worth seeing a doctor as soon as possible.
Tumours of the palate also remain symptom-free for a long time, and they too often develop on the basis of red, discoloured areas.
Reddish areas or even thickened whitish patches on the oral lining can be suspicious, so it is advisable to see a doctor about these too.
Red, white or brown patches on the lips can indicate oral tumours as well.
Tumours of the jawbones usually cause pain and numbness because the periosteum is involved, but they can also develop painlessly.
Tumours of the salivary glands (parotid gland, submandibular gland, sublingual gland) can be painful or painless; they usually grow quickly and feel hard.
