Lip cancer - symptoms, the first signs

Among all malignant oncological neoplasms, the lip tumor is quite rare, in about 1.5% of cases. Despite the obvious location and presence of visual manifestations of pathology, it is rarely possible to diagnose it at an early stage. The fact is that there are many harmless diseases, reminiscent of lip cancer - the symptoms and the first signs are similar to herpes or banal mechanical damage to the skin. Therefore, patients seek help at the last phases of tumor progression.


Symptoms of Lip Cancer in the initial stage

The early stage of development of the described oncological lesion is characterized by the formation of a small defect on the surface of the lip. As a rule, it has the structure of a nodule or a movable compaction, looks similar to the clinical manifestation of recurrence of herpesvirus infection. Such a hypodermic ball is completely painless for palpation and does not cause any tangible discomfort. Outside, it is covered with a thin film, as when the epidermis dries out due to wind or frost, peeling. Attempts to remove this crust cause pain syndrome.

Sometimes there are additional first symptoms of cancer of the lip:

The newly diagnosed patient first tries to clean himself, suggesting that it is not a cancer, but a common sore, crack or herpes. Particularly often, steps are taken to soften and then remove the crust above the nodal seal. This is fraught with intense pain, the opening of a moderate bleeding from the lip and the formation of a new scab on the skin, exceeding the previous damage in size. In rare cases, the resulting wound does not heal, gradually turning into a permanently deepening erosion.

Signs and symptoms of progressive cancer of the lip

The clinical manifestations of the disease in question are characterized by a negative dynamics - the signs increase over time, and their severity increases.

For progressive cancer of the lip, noticeable reddening of the border of the mouth is characteristic. In addition, the skin begins to flake out and crack along the edge, often bleeding even with minor facial movements, a smile, a conversation.

Neoplasm also changes over time. A small nodule or subcutaneous thickening gradually grows, significantly increasing in size. The tumor visually protrudes beyond the border of the lip, both in width and height. In its center, an ulcer or erosion with a fine-grained surface is noticeable. Edges of the node are blurred, indistinct, cylindrical. On the rim there is redness, inflammatory tissue infiltration. This seal is periodically covered with a thin gray or brownish film, which is very painful to remove. Under it you can find bumpy numerous sprawl, resembling the inflorescence of cauliflower. Over time, they merge with each other, forming a single tumor plaque. Under adverse circumstances, it can mutate into a deep necrotic ulcer with an uneven bottom and irregular margins.

Symptoms of how the lip cancer develops can be supplemented with the following manifestations: