Mouth Ulcer Not Healing for 3 Weeks?
A persistent mouth sore or ulcer that is still there after three weeks deserves attention.
Read the myth: A mouth ulcer should be treated with ointments for a few months before anyone thinks of a biopsy? →Home / Myth Busters / Head and neck cancer
Myth Busters · Head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer myths,
answered with evidence.
తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్ – అపోహలు, నిజాలు
Mouth cancer is one of the most common cancers in India, yet it is one of the easiest to spot early: often a simple ulcer, patch or voice change. This series answers the myths about chewing tobacco, supari, symptoms, tests and treatment, so people know what to look for and when to get checked.
When to see a doctor
Mouth changes to get checked
- An ulcer or sore that hasn't healed within two weeks, painful or not
- A white or red patch inside the mouth
- A lump or thickening in the cheek, gums or tongue
- Bleeding, numbness or loose teeth without a clear cause
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue
Read more: A mouth ulcer that doesn't hurt can't be cancer?
Sudden or severe symptoms need emergency care: go to the nearest emergency department or call 108.
32 myths · Updated October 2026
Watch
Watch Dr. Haritha explain
Short videos on head and neck cancer by Dr. Haritha Chiramana. Every myth is also answered in writing below.
Hoarse Voice for 3 Weeks? Get Checked
Hoarse for more than three weeks? Your voice may be telling you something. Get your throat checked by an ENT doctor.
Read the myth: A change in voice that won't go away is always due to a cold? →Videos play from YouTube. General education only; they cannot replace an individual consultation.
Causes & risk
Causes and risk
Myth #01 · Causes & risk
Only smokers get mouth and throat cancer?
పొగ తాగేవాళ్లకు మాత్రమే నోటి, గొంతు క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందా?Chewing tobacco, areca nut, alcohol and the HPV virus are also important causes. Some people have no known risk factor at all.
Read the factsMyth #02 · Causes & riskChewing tobacco is safer than smoking cigarettes?
సిగరెట్ తాగడం కంటే పొగాకు నమలడం సురక్షితమా?Gutka, khaini, zarda and other smokeless tobacco products greatly increase the risk of mouth cancer.
Read the factsMyth #03 · Causes & riskPan masala without tobacco is completely safe?
పొగాకు లేని పాన్ మసాలా పూర్తిగా సురక్షితమా?Areca nut (supari) causes cancer on its own, even without tobacco. It also causes oral submucous fibrosis, a condition that can turn into mouth cancer.
Read the factsMyth #04 · Causes & riskHead and neck cancers happen only in elderly people?
తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్లు వయసు మళ్లినవాళ్లకు మాత్రమే వస్తాయా?These cancers become more common with age, but younger adults can get them too, including HPV-related throat cancers.
Read the factsMyth #05 · Causes & riskIf I stop chewing tobacco, my cancer risk becomes zero straight away?
పొగాకు నమలడం మానేస్తే వెంటనే క్యాన్సర్ ప్రమాదం సున్నా అవుతుందా?Quitting lowers your future risk, but some extra risk can remain for years. Regular mouth checks are still important, especially if you already have patches.
Read the factsMyth #25 · Causes & riskOnce mouth or throat cancer is diagnosed, there is no point stopping tobacco?
నోటి లేదా గొంతు క్యాన్సర్ నిర్ధారణ అయిన తర్వాత పొగాకు మానేసినా లాభం లేదా?Stopping tobacco and areca nut after diagnosis helps treatment work, reduces side effects and lowers the risk of a second cancer.
Read the factsMyth #31 · Causes & riskHPV throat cancer means my partner was unfaithful, and my partner will get cancer too?
హెచ్‌పీవీ గొంతు క్యాన్సర్ వచ్చిందంటే నా భాగస్వామి నమ్మకద్రోహం చేశారని, వారికీ క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందని అర్థమా?HPV is very common and usually caught many years before a cancer appears, so it cannot tell when or from whom it came. Long-term partners have not been found to be at higher risk, and the cancer itself does not spread from person to person.
Read the factsSymptoms & early detection
Symptoms and early detection
Myth #06 · Symptoms & early detection
A mouth ulcer that doesn't hurt can't be cancer?
నొప్పి లేని నోటి పుండు క్యాన్సర్ కాదా?Early mouth cancers often appear as painless ulcers or patches. Any ulcer that hasn't healed in two weeks needs a doctor's check.
Read the factsMyth #07 · Symptoms & early detectionWhite or red patches inside the mouth are always harmless?
నోటి లోపల తెల్లటి లేదా ఎర్రటి మచ్చలు ఎప్పుడూ హాని లేనివేనా?Patches that don't go away, called leukoplakia (white) or erythroplakia (red), can be early warning signs, or occasionally cancer already.
Read the factsMyth #08 · Symptoms & early detectionDifficulty opening the mouth is just a dental problem?
నోరు తెరవడం కష్టంగా ఉండటం కేవలం పళ్ల సమస్యేనా?Slowly worsening difficulty in opening the mouth can be a sign of oral submucous fibrosis, especially in people who chew areca nut, or occasionally of cancer.
Read the factsVideo
Myth #09 · Symptoms & early detectionA change in voice that won't go away is always due to a cold?
ఎంతకూ తగ్గని గొంతు మార్పు ఎప్పుడూ జలుబు వల్లేనా?Hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks, or less with other worrying symptoms, needs a doctor to examine the voice box.
Read the factsMyth #10 · Symptoms & early detectionA painless swelling in the neck is never serious?
నొప్పి లేని మెడ వాపు ఎప్పుడూ తీవ్రమైనది కాదా?In adults, a neck lump that doesn't go away can be a sign of head and neck cancer, lymphoma or another important condition, and needs to be checked.
Read the factsVideo
Myth #21 · Symptoms & early detectionA mouth ulcer should be treated with ointments for a few months before anyone thinks of a biopsy?
నోటి పుండుకు ముక్క పరీక్ష ఆలోచించే ముందు, కొన్ని నెలలు పూత మందులు వాడాలా?If an ulcer, patch or lump is still there two weeks after a sharp tooth or a rubbing denture is fixed, it needs a biopsy, not more ointment.
Read the factsMyth #29 · Symptoms & early detectionA mouth check is only needed when there are symptoms?
లక్షణాలు ఉన్నప్పుడే నోటి పరీక్ష అవసరమా?Regular mouth checks find cancers and pre-cancer patches before they cause pain. In a large trial in Kerala, mouth screening reduced deaths from mouth cancer.
Read the factsMyth #32 · Symptoms & early detectionA blocked ear on one side in an adult is always just an ear infection?
పెద్దవాళ్లలో ఒక చెవి మూసుకుపోవడం ఎప్పుడూ చెవి ఇన్‌ఫెక్షనేనా?In an adult, a one-sided blocked ear or fluid behind the eardrum that does not clear can be the first sign of a cancer at the back of the nose (nasopharyngeal cancer). The back of the nose needs to be looked at.
Read the factsDiagnosis & staging
Diagnosis and staging
Myth #11 · Diagnosis & staging
A biopsy makes mouth or throat cancer spread?
బయాప్సీ చేస్తే నోటి లేదా గొంతు క్యాన్సర్ పాకుతుందా?A properly performed biopsy is safe and essential for diagnosis. Cancer spreading because of a biopsy is extremely uncommon.
Read the factsMyth #12 · Diagnosis & stagingEvery lump or ulcer in the mouth is cancer?
నోట్లో ప్రతి గడ్డ లేదా పుండు క్యాన్సరేనా?Most mouth ulcers and lumps are harmless, caused by injury, infection or irritation. But ones that persist or look suspicious need assessment, and sometimes a biopsy.
Read the factsMyth #13 · Diagnosis & stagingA normal blood test means there is no head and neck cancer?
రక్త పరీక్ష మామూలుగా ఉంటే తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్ లేనట్టేనా?Routine blood tests cannot reliably rule out these cancers. Doctors use examination, endoscopy, scans and biopsy instead.
Read the factsMyth #14 · Diagnosis & stagingIf cancer spreads to the neck lymph nodes, it is automatically stage IV and can't be cured?
క్యాన్సర్ మెడ లింఫ్ గ్రంథులకు పాకితే అది ఆటోమేటిక్‌గా నాలుగో దశ, నయం కాదా?Spread to neck lymph nodes does not mean the cancer has reached distant organs, and many such cancers are still treated with the aim of cure.
Read the factsMyth #15 · Diagnosis & stagingAll head and neck cancers are caused by HPV?
తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్లన్నీ హెచ్‌పీవీ వల్లే వస్తాయా?HPV causes a share of throat cancers, mainly of the tonsils and back of the tongue. Tobacco and alcohol remain major causes of mouth and voice box cancers.
Read the factsMyth #22 · Diagnosis & stagingA neck lump in an adult is usually TB and can be treated with TB tablets?
పెద్దవాళ్లలో మెడలో గడ్డ అంటే సాధారణంగా క్షయే, క్షయ మాత్రలు వాడవచ్చా?In an adult, especially one who uses tobacco or areca nut, a firm neck lump is often cancer that has spread from the mouth or throat. A needle test must come before any TB treatment.
Read the factsTreatment & recovery
Treatment and recovery
Myth #16 · Treatment & recovery
Every mouth cancer needs removal of the whole jaw or tongue?
ప్రతి నోటి క్యాన్సర్‌కూ దవడ మొత్తం లేదా నాలుక మొత్తం తీసేయాలా?The extent of surgery depends on the size, position and depth of the cancer. Many early cancers can be treated with a much smaller operation.
Read the factsMyth #17 · Treatment & recoveryRadiotherapy to the head and neck always leaves you permanently unable to swallow?
తల, మెడకు రేడియోథెరపీ ఇస్తే ఎప్పటికీ మింగలేని పరిస్థితి వస్తుందా?Swallowing problems are a possible side effect, but modern planning, exercises and supportive care help many people keep their ability to swallow.
Read the factsMyth #18 · Treatment & recoveryEvery head and neck cancer patient needs chemotherapy?
ప్రతి తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్ రోగికీ కీమోథెరపీ అవసరమా?Many early cancers are treated with surgery or radiotherapy alone. Chemotherapy and other medicines are used for specific situations.
Read the factsMyth #19 · Treatment & recoveryIf a patient can't have surgery, the cancer can't be cured?
రోగికి ఆపరేషన్ చేయలేకపోతే క్యాన్సర్ నయం కాదా?Radiotherapy, sometimes combined with chemotherapy, can cure some head and neck cancers without surgery.
Read the factsMyth #20 · Treatment & recoveryAfter successful treatment, follow-up isn't necessary?
చికిత్స విజయవంతమయ్యాక తదుపరి పరీక్షలు అవసరం లేదా?Follow-up is essential to catch any return of the cancer, new cancers and late effects of treatment early, and rehabilitation continues long after treatment.
Read the factsMyth #23 · Treatment & recoveryAfter radiotherapy to the mouth, a tooth can be removed at any clinic like anyone else?
నోటికి రేడియోథెరపీ తీసుకున్న తర్వాత, ఏ క్లినిక్‌లోనైనా మామూలుగా పన్ను తీయించుకోవచ్చా?Removing a tooth from a jaw that has had radiotherapy can make the bone die (osteoradionecrosis). It should be planned with your cancer team and done carefully by an experienced dentist or oral surgeon.
Read the factsMyth #24 · Treatment & recoveryLosing a lot of weight during head and neck radiotherapy is normal, and nothing can be done?
తల, మెడ రేడియోథెరపీ సమయంలో బాగా బరువు తగ్గడం సహజం, దాని గురించి ఏమీ చేయలేమా?Much of the weight loss can be prevented. Soft food, painkillers, mouth care and, when needed, a feeding tube keep people strong enough to finish treatment without breaks.
Read the factsMyth #26 · Treatment & recoveryIf the voice box is removed, a person can never speak again?
స్వరపేటికను తీసేస్తే మనిషి ఇక ఎప్పటికీ మాట్లాడలేడా?After a laryngectomy most people learn to speak again, most often with a small voice valve, or with an electronic device or food-pipe speech.
Read the factsMyth #27 · Treatment & recoveryA feeding tube during treatment means you will never eat by mouth again?
చికిత్స సమయంలో ఆహార గొట్టం పెడితే, ఇక ఎప్పటికీ నోటితో తినలేరా?Most feeding tubes used during head and neck treatment are temporary. They keep you nourished through the sore weeks, and most people return to eating by mouth.
Read the factsMyth #28 · Treatment & recoveryImmunotherapy has replaced surgery and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer?
ఇమ్యునోథెరపీ వచ్చాక, తల, మెడ క్యాన్సర్‌కు ఆపరేషన్, రేడియోథెరపీ అవసరం లేదా?Surgery and radiotherapy remain the main treatments that cure head and neck cancer. Immunotherapy helps some patients, mostly as an addition or when cancer comes back.
Read the factsMyth #30 · Treatment & recoveryTaking a week off radiotherapy for a festival or travel does no harm?
పండుగకో, ప్రయాణానికో రేడియోథెరపీకి ఒక వారం విరామం తీసుకుంటే నష్టం లేదా?Unplanned breaks during head and neck radiotherapy let the cancer cells regrow and lower the chance of cure.
Read the factsHave a head and neck cancer myth you'd like Dr. Haritha to answer? Send it on WhatsApp. Educational information is general and cannot replace an individualised clinical consultation.