Though canker sores are common, extra attention is warranted if lumps appear in the mouth for unknown reasons. Here we have the case of a young man with a gradually growing lump in his mouth that started him worrying about the growth being malignant and its impact on eating. Not sure about what specialty care to seek, he turned to Cigna for professional medical advice.
Abnormal mouth growths
About a year and a half ago, Mr Luk, in his 20s, discovered a bump in his upper jaw near the gum. He did not pay much attention to it, thinking it was due to "excess internal heat" or just a canker sore. Later, after finding the continued growth of the lump to 1 cm in diameter, Luk became alarmed about the health consequences of the growth. A non-smoker, Luk maintained a healthy diet with no family history of oral cancer or throat cancer. Fearful of getting cancer, he planned to seek specialist consultation.
Not knowing what specialty care to seek
While looking for specialist advice, Luk suddenly realised that he didn't know well enough to decide whether to consult a dentist or other medical specialists. What specialty care should he choose if he decided to seek specialist consultation? Luk was confused and talked to his friends and surfed the internet for information and advice, but no precise answer could be found. So, he turned to Cigna for more advice on medical consultation.
Upon receiving Luk’s request, our Cigna’s Care Manager immediately arranged an appointment for him with an otolaryngologist in the Cigna’s Medical Network. After an assessment and examination by the otolaryngologist, Luk was diagnosed with a benign cyst. The growth was subsequently removed by the doctor through surgery. Luk fully recovered after some time.
Thankful to Care Manager for professional medical advice and assistance
Private hospitals are expensive, so members of the general public tend to favor government hospitals for cost reasons. Weighed down by an ageing population, public medical services often fall short of demand. Seeking specialist treatment in public hospitals means an increasingly lengthy wait. Many who are financially capable will buy health insurance products suited to their needs at a young age for comprehensive protection in the future. Mr Luk is a client of Cigna HealthFirst Elite 360 Medical Insurance. Having been troubled for some time by an unknown lump in his mouth that he initially regarded as a minor problem, he eventually suffered angst and anxiety for fear of getting cancer. He was therefore grateful for the timely assistance of our Care Manager in arranging appointments, providing emotional support, and offering “Cashless Hospitalization” service for admission to and discharge from hospitals. Luk could heave a sigh of relief after undergoing surgery to remove the benign cyst in his mouth.
What you need to know about oral cancer and throat cancer
An abnormal growth in the mouth may trigger concerns about getting cancer. The best solution is to seek early medical consultation and examination so that an early diagnosis can be performed to determine whether the lump found is benign or malignant. This will allow timely treatment to take place and eliminate the possibility of contracting a severe illness. The following are common symptoms associated with oral cancer:
- Ulcers, lumps or swelling in the mouth, throat or head or neck, including swollen lymph nodes
- Pain during eating
- Difficulty talking or breathing, shortness of breath, such as noisy breathing, unclear speech and husky voice
- Lip numbness and a change in taste
- Loose teeth of unknown cause
- Continuous nasal obstruction or nosebleeds
- Sore throat, affecting ears
- Facial or upper jaw pain
- Smokers may have pre-carcinogenic cells inside their mouths or on their tongues, appearing as white or red lumps or spots. These are usually painless but may cause bleeding in some cases
Cigna’s Care Manager Provides You with Heart-warming Services
At present, Cigna’s Individual and Group customers can receive our Healthcare Concierge Service when receiving treatment, including a dedicated Care Manager for follow-up. The services are as follows:
- Staffed by registered nurses and provide customers with professional advisory if they are facing health issue. For health enquiry, Please contact Cigna Customer Service hotline
- Understands and analyzes the health condition of customers, and offers network doctor options
- Coordinates and follows up on hospital surgery or treatment arrangements and post-surgery visit
- Provides information on improving health, and post-discharge follow-up in person(for example, arranging post-discharge physiotherapy, nutrition guidance, meal delivery service, and more)
- Refers you to personalized services (for example, local limousine transportation to the hospital, nursing arrangements, virtual consultation, medication delivery, home modification, and more)
- Provides emotional support for customers and their family
- Helps arrange “Cigna Health Services At Home” to reduce the risk of infection
The above content is adapted from real cases. Should you have any questions regarding the above case, please contact Cigna for inquiries.
The content of the article cannot substitute for professional opinions or diagnosis of the attending doctors. Should you have any questions regarding the medical treatment plan, please consult your attending doctor.
The content of the above article is for reference only, and Cigna does not warrant or make any representation regarding the accuracy and completeness of the related content and information. Cigna shall not be liable for any damages, indemnities, costs or other expenses arising out of the related content and information.
Cigna HealthFirst Elite 360 Medical Plan offers comprehensive and personalized medical coverage across the stage prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, with a range of hospital and surgical benefits, optional insurance benefits with an annual limit of up to HK$50 million, personalized health assessment, three critical illnesses(cancer, stroke and heart attack) all-rounded care and international medical concierge service. A 360-degree total health protection that spans across all the key stages of your health journey. Learn more here.
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