Oral Cancer

Oral and oral cavity cancers refer to cancer that develops in any of the parts that make up the mouth. Oral cancer can occur on the lips, gums, tongue, inside lining of the cheeks, roof of the mouth, or floor of the mouth, but most oral cancers begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Oral cancer accounts for roughly 2% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States. Approximately 42,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer each year and about 8,000 will die from the disease. Anyone can get oral cancer, but the risk is higher if you are male, over age 40, use tobacco or alcohol, or have a history of head or neck cancer. Frequent sun exposure is also a risk for lip cancer.

Oral cancer is one of several types of cancer grouped in a category called head and neck cancers. Oral cancer and other head and neck cancers are often treated similarly, usually with combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

The exact cause of oral cancer is not known. In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing the cell to grow and multiply out of control. It is not clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to oral cancers, but several risk factors have been identified factors that may increase your chances of developing oral cancer, including:

• tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others
• heavy alcohol use
• excessive sun exposure to your lips
• a sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)

See a dentist or doctor for a mouth sore, lump, or white or red patch that lasts more than two weeks, or ongoing trouble chewing or swallowing. Early detection greatly improves treatment success.