Are there early warning signs of oral cancer?

Yes, there are signals worth watching for. 1) An ulcer inside the mouth that has not healed after 2 to 3 weeks (an ordinary canker sore usually heals within 1 to 2 weeks), 2) a white patch (leukoplakia) or red patch (erythroplakia) that does not wipe away, 3) a lump you can feel in the mouth or neck, 4) a tooth that suddenly becomes loose without gum disease, and 5) persistent altered sensation on one side of the tongue or lip. In the early stages there is often no pain, so it is easy to dismiss it on the grounds that it does not hurt. If any of these lasts more than 2 weeks, please have a dental examination.