Lip cancer occurs most frequently in people who use tobacco and spend time in the sun, reports the University of Wisconsin. Symptoms that last longer than three to four weeks should be reported to the patient's health care provider. If recognized early, the cure rate for lip cancer can be as high as 90 percent. Signs of lip cancer should be brought to the attention of a physician as soon as they are recognized.
Irritation
Lip cancer usually begins in the squamous cells--thin flat skin cells--and spreads into deeper areas of the lips as the cancer grows, according to the Cleveland Clinic. An early sign may be an irritated area that looks like chapped lips, notes the University of Wisconsin. Patients who smoke, use alcohol, use mouthwash containing alcohol or who are exposed to sunlight should be particularly suspicious of an irritated area on the upper or lower lip, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Sore
A sore on the lip that does not heal after one to two weeks may be an early sign of cancer, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. The sore may be numb or painful, may bleed easily or excessively, or may appear as crusty patches on the lip. Individuals should examine their mouths and lips for unusual-appearing lesions every month and report these symptoms to their health care providers.
Lump
A lump or thickening on the lip that does not go away after one to two weeks should be examined, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The lump or thickening may be numb or painful. Benign or nonmalignant tumors may have a similar appearance so your health care provider will need to perform a biopsy or other testing to make the diagnosis.
Pain or Numbness
Lip cancer may first appear as pain or numbness on the lip, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, without any visible signs of a tumor. Pain elsewhere in the oral cavity, including the jaw, gums, lining of the mouth or tongue, may be a sign that the lip cancer has spread. Pain and swelling in the lymph nodes of the jaw or neck is a serious indication of metastasis or spread of the cancer. As a general rule, lip cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes or nearby structures is considered stage III or stage IV, depending on the extent of metastasis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These advanced stages require more invasive treatment than stages I and II, which do not involve other structures of the head or neck.
