Warning signs of mouth cancer - visiting the doctor

Doctor examining a mouth cancer patientYour first port of call

When you notice a worrying change to your body, your local GP surgery should be your first port of call. Your doctor will be able to reassure you that the problem is not serious or refer you to a specialist for tests.

Warning signs and GP referral

With so many symptoms for different cancers, it can be difficult for doctors to know who to refer to a specialist. So national experts produce guidelines to help GPs decide which patients need to be seen urgently by a specialist.

Our warning signs are based on these guidelines and we wrote them with the help of mouth cancer specialists.

Tips for visiting the doctor

Some people find that their mind goes blank when they visit the doctor. So you may find it helpful to write a few things down beforehand as a reminder. Note down:

  • what changes you have noticed in your mouth
  • how long you have had them for

You might also want to print our warning signs page to show to your doctor.

Questions for your doctor

If your doctor doesn’t think you need to see a specialist you might want to ask:

  • Why do you think I don’t need to see a specialist?
  • Do you think I am in an at risk group for mouth cancer?
  • How could I reduce my risk of mouth cancer?
  • How long should I wait before coming back to see you if my mouth is still bothering me?

Registering with a GP surgery

It is always a good idea to be registered with a local doctor. When you move to a new area you will need to find a new GP surgery. You can do this by searching online or calling a helpline. Here are some useful contact details:

NHS Direct - for local GP surgeries in England Call: 0845 46 47 Visit: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/find/results/index.aspx

NHS Scotland - for local GP surgeries in Scotland Call: 0800 22 44 88 Visit: www.show.scot.nhs.uk/findnearest/healthservices/

NHS Wales - for local GP surgeries in Wales Call: 0845 46 47 Visit: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/small/en/home/localservices/gpsinformationandlinks/

Central Services Agency Northern Ireland - for local services in Northern Ireland Visit: www.centralservicesagency.com/display/currentmedicallists