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Minor Numbness - Oral Cancer?
by ironworks, Jul 20, 2008 10:56PM
Hello, im 22 year old, male, for three days I have been experiencing tingling and minor numbness below my lip on the right side of my mouth. It comes and goes, I have tried to ignore it, but I just cant. I feel it there and im worried it could be cancer. I have chewed tobacco and drank alcohol for 4 1/2 years, so that is the main reason I am worried.
I had an exam this morning from my dentist, and she checked my mouth for lesions and couldn't find any reason why I would be experiencing this minor numbness. I have had a white canker sore in the exact spot (canker sore went away after approx. 4 days) that I am experiencing the numbness and tingling, and I thought maybe that could have something to do with it. The Dentist told me to give 2-3 days before I come back and consider sending me to a specialist.
Questions:
Is this an early warning sign of Oral Cancer?
If I did have cancer wouldn't I get red or white patches in my mouth first?
Is there tests that can be done, to see if I do have cancer?
I had an exam this morning from my dentist, and she checked my mouth for lesions and couldn't find any reason why I would be experiencing this minor numbness. I have had a white canker sore in the exact spot (canker sore went away after approx. 4 days) that I am experiencing the numbness and tingling, and I thought maybe that could have something to do with it. The Dentist told me to give 2-3 days before I come back and consider sending me to a specialist.
Questions:
Is this an early warning sign of Oral Cancer?
If I did have cancer wouldn't I get red or white patches in my mouth first?
Is there tests that can be done, to see if I do have cancer?
Post Comment
How are you?
You are right in saying that the early symptom of oral cancer is white or red patch in the mouth. Other symptoms include an ulcer on the lip or mouth area, mouth sores that do not resolve in two weeks time. Usually pain and tingling numbness is a late sign.
A definitive diagnosis of oral cancer can be made by biopsy and microscopic examination of the lesion.
I would suggest you to please follow up with the dentist. Do let me know if you need further information. Take care!