Symptoms of mouth cancer after man spotted unusual warning sign in his teeth that led to shock diagnosis

A man who was diagnosed with mouth cancer got an early warning sign from his teeth and has since been speaking about his experience.

Meat Loaf tribute act Peter Young was invited onto the BBC to talk about the singer after he died in 2022 but when he rewatched the interview footage he noticed there was a gap in his teeth.

The 67-year-old said he wouldn't have got it checked out and didn't go to the dentist often, but after he visited a dentist later that year to get implants for missing teeth he was given the devastating diagnosis of stage four mouth cancer.

Peter needed an 11-hour operation to remove his cancer and had to go without teeth for 'seven or eight months', with the remainder of his jaw now replaced by implants.

In 2023, there were over 10,000 new cases of mouth cancer in the UK and the rate at which people are being diagnosed has risen by 38 percent in the past decade.

Symptoms of mouth cancer

According to the NHS, symptoms of mouth cancer can strike any part of the mouth including your gums, tongue, lips and inside the cheek.

It says that the main symptoms can include a mouth ulcer which lasts for over three weeks, a red or white patch inside your mouth, a lump inside your mouth or on the lip, pain in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, trouble speaking, a lump in the neck or throat or a sudden loss of weight without significant change to your diet or exercise regime.

If you have these symptoms then you should go and see a doctor, as even if it's not mouth cancer there could be another medical issue which requires some treatment.

Your dentist can also help with some of the symptoms if these issues get spotted, and it's always worth seeking help with symptoms that have stuck around for three weeks or longer.

While anyone can get cancer there are a number of health and lifestyle factors which can affect a person's chances of getting mouth cancer.

Smokers or people who chew tobacco, betel nut or paan are more likely to develop it, while people who drink lots of alcohol are more prone to developing mouth cancer as well.

People with leukoplakia, which is white patches developing in the mouth, are also at higher risk.

As with many health conditions, a healthy diet with exercise and cutting down on alcohol and smoking can help your chances of avoiding it but nothing is guaranteed.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.