Treatment

Oral cancer screening

An oral cancer check is a short, painless examination of the tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palate and the lymph nodes in the neck, and it is included as part of a full examination here. It matters most for people who use tobacco, paan, khaini or supari, or who drink heavily, and those habits are common enough in Nepal that this is not a rare concern. Early detection changes the outcome substantially, and the early signs are painless, which is the problem: an ulcer that does not hurt is easy to ignore for months. The rule worth remembering is two weeks. Any ulcer, white or red patch, lump or persistent hoarseness that has not resolved in two weeks should be looked at, whether or not it hurts and whether or not you use tobacco.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Binaya Bhandari, Owner and Dental Surgeon, NMC 20701. Last updated 16 August 2026.

Dentist examining the soft tissue inside a patient's mouth during an oral cancer screening — A screening checks the cheeks, tongue and floor of the mouth, not just teeth.

When do you need this treatment?

An ulcer or sore that has not healed in two weeks
A white or red patch inside the mouth
A lump in the mouth or neck, or persistent hoarseness
You use tobacco, paan or khaini, or have done in the past

What happens during your visit?

1Visual and manual examination of the soft tissues of the mouth and neck
2Anything unusual is photographed and recorded
3Referral for a biopsy, a small tissue sample sent for testing, where a patch or sore needs a definite diagnosis
4Advice on cessation, if tobacco or paan is a factor

What happens if you leave it untreated?

Oral cancer detected early is far more treatable than oral cancer detected late, and the difference in outcome between the two is large. Because the early stages are usually painless, the deciding factor is almost always whether someone had a suspicious patch or sore looked at promptly.

What is recovery like?

The screening itself involves nothing to recover from. It takes a few minutes, needs no anaesthetic and is done as part of a normal examination. If a patch or sore needs a biopsy, that is a separate short procedure and will be explained at the time.

General guidance only. Your own recovery depends on your case, and the dentist treating you will tell you what to expect.

Questions you might have

Oral Cancer Screening

Who should be screened for oral cancer?

Everyone having a full dental examination, since it takes only a few minutes. It matters most for current and former users of tobacco, paan, khaini or supari, for heavy drinkers, and for anyone with an ulcer or patch that has not healed in two weeks.

What does an early oral cancer look like?

Often unremarkable, which is the difficulty. A persistent white or red patch, a non-healing ulcer, a lump, or an area of thickening, usually painless in the early stages. Anything present for more than two weeks should be examined rather than watched.

Is paan or khaini as risky as smoking?

Smokeless tobacco and areca nut products carry substantial risk for oral cancer, and they are widely assumed to be safer than smoking, which they are not. The risk applies to paan, khaini, gutkha and supari, and increases with the years of use.

Who does this