Clinical features

The commonest symptom of lip cancer will be a visible change to the lip in the form of a lump, an ulcer or other change, most frequently on the lower lip, followed by the angle of the lips or commissure, then rarely on the upper lip.

Symptoms of cancer inside the mouth include:

• Mouth ulcer that does not heal
• pain in the mouth that does not go away
• abnormal red or white patch inside the mouth that does not go away
• lump in the lip, mouth or throat
• pain on chewing or swallowing
• difficulty chewing or swallowing
• bleeding in the mouth
• numbness in the mouth
• loose teeth
• difficulty opening the mouth
• speech difficulty (articulating words)
• bad breath (halitosis)

The following may be symptoms of advanced disease:

• a lump in the neck
• loss of weight
• a large tumour may cause difficulty breathing
• Tumours bigger than 4 cms is size, or smaller size associated with weight loss, lump in the neck or difficulty breathing

Amended November 2008