How long does it take to get mouth cancer from chewing tobacco?

It varies, but long.: Tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco, is certainly a risk factor. Most patients present at over age 50. There may be few or no symptoms. Mouth cancers can present as non healing ulcers that can be painful. Rarely, there can be painless lymph node enlaregement. Patients are staged by size of tumor and lymph node involvement.

Years: The development of mouth cancer due to tobacco related products takes years and multiple exposures.

Variable: Teen agers have developed cancer of the mouth from chewing tobacco. For most people who get cancer, it takes years of this habit. The time-lag is dependent to a good measure on the genetic make-up of the person. The prudent action is to not use tobacco in any form. Tobacco use is the biggest cancer risk.