Sir, some years ago I suggested a RULE for mouth cancer diagnosis, which focused on the more common features of early cancers and precancers, viz chronic:

Red or white patch,

Ulceration,

Lump, any

Extending for three weeks or more.1

However, cancer can have other and multifarious presentations and we are also intent on diagnosing any such lesion whether early or more advanced as soon as possible. Other such presentations can include tooth loosening2 or cervical lymphadenopathy,3,4 though there can be many other causes for these, so it would seem an improvement to extend the RULE to:

Red or white patch,

Ulceration,

Lump, Loose tooth or Lymphadenopathy,

Extending for three weeks or more.