When it comes to our health, it's easy to dismiss symptoms as 'normal'.
Whether they've been there for years or have just developed in the last couple of days, it's always worth keeping an eye on them and going to your GP if you're worried.
According to Hull Live, cancers of the head and neck kill more than four thousand Brits every year and with a near 50% survival rate, the earlier these cancers are caught the better.
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Mouth cancer in particular affects more men than it does women with almost twice as many men being diagnosed with this type cancer each year.
However, unlike many other cancers, almost half of all mouth cancers are preventable.
Giving up smoking and improving your oral hygiene can help prevent oral cancer with the Oral Health Foundation saying the best way to "save your life" is to keep an eye on your health.
This is important as an oral cancer could affect almost any part of your mouth with soft tissue areas the most likely to be affected.
This includes your lips, gums, cheek, tongue and the roof of your mouth.
If you are worried that you might have this cancer and cannot get an appointment with your doctor, there are other ways of seeking professional help.
Unlike other cancers, mouth cancer can also be detected and checked by a dentist with people in the profession being trained in the identification of head and neck cancers.
If this disease is caught early, patients are said to have a 90% survival rate.
The Oral Health Foundation says that the four early warning signs you can spot with a regular oral health check include:
- Ulcers that take longer than three weeks to heal
- Unusual red or white patches
- Lumps around your neck and jaw
- Persistent hoarseness of the throat
Anyone experiencing one of these symptoms are recommended to consult with a dentist or a doctor.
How to prevent mouth cancer
The NHS says that the most effective way to prevent mouth cancer is to avoid some of the most common vices, drinking and smoking.
Health bosses say the three most impactful things you can do are:
- Not smoking tobacco, or using other substitutes such as chewing tobacco
- Drinking within the healthy drinking guidelines set by the Chief Medical Officer
- Eating a healthy and balanced diet
There are three main treatments for these kinds of cancer, though they are often used in combination, with surgery following a course of radiotherapy likely to prevent further cancers forming.
The three treatments are:
- Surgery to remove the cancerous cells, along with a tiny bit of the surrounding normal tissue or cells to ensure the cancer is completely removed
- Radiotherapy – where beams of radiation are directed at the cancerous cells
- Chemotherapy – where powerful medicines are used to kill cancerous cells
As well as trying to cure mouth cancer, treatment will focus on preserving important functions of the mouth, such as breathing, speaking and eating.
