If you develop, any of the telltale, above-mentioned symptoms of mouth cancer, see your general practitioner right away for confirmation. Your GP will begin his or her diagnosis of your mouth cancer by asking you a series of questions. They will ask you related to all symptoms you have noticed, how often they happen, how negatively they affect you, and how severe they are. You will also be asked to undergo a physical examination in which your GP will examine you for various physical signs of mouth cancer. Lastly, your GP may ask you probing questions about any previous diseases you or other members in your family may have had.
Biopsy
If your GP suspects you have mouth cancer after conducting a full diagnosis on you, he or she may ask you for a biopsy. Your GP will brush off small sections of tissue in your mouth and tongue and analyze it for mouth cancer cells and tumours. Your GP will refer you to an mouth cancer doctor for the three of you to develop a proper treatment plan if the biopsy indicates that you have mouth cancer.
Stage cancer tests
The only way your doctors can appropriately treat you for mouth cancer is if they know the stage that it has progressed to. There are many tests to determine the stages of mouth cancer. They are:
- Endoscopy
- Imaging tests
Endoscopy
An endoscopy involves your doctor threading a catheter with a small camera and light attached to it, which will take detailed pictures and images. The doctor will analyze these pictures and models to determine what stage your mouth cancer is, how severe it is and the type of mouth cancer that you have.
Imaging tests
Your doctor will order an x-ray image of your lungs to determine if your cancer has metastasized.