Mouth Cancer is sometimes misdiagnosed as Hairy Tongue

It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with Hairy Tongue, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Mouth Cancer.

Early diagnosis is essential in treating oral cancer. With early discovery and treatment, the cure rate is particularly high. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drugs as well as radiation therapy. Mouth cancer is diagnosed by a physical check as well as a biopsy to confirm diagnosis.

Always consult your doctor or health professional, and do not self diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

A non healing mouth ulcer, a white or red patch in the mouth, a lump or sore patch in the mouth or lip or throat, swollen glands that don’t go down, persistent sore throat, chewing problems, swallowing problems, problems with jaw movement, sore throat, loose teeth, speech changes, weight loss, bleeding or numbness or swelling in mouth

Symptoms are a guideline only and may apply to either the diagnosis or the reported misdiagnosis, or both. Consult your specialist for further information.

Further reference:

www.healthdirect.gov.au

Click here to go to the A-Z list of diagnoses and misdiagnoses.