What Is Oral Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 35,310 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year.² Oral tumors can develop anywhere in the oral cavity and oropharynx—where the back of the mouth connects with the throat.¹

The oral cavity includes:

• The lips, teeth, and gums

• The lining inside the lips and cheeks

• The floor of the mouth under the tongue

• The top of the mouth (known as the hard palate)

• The small area behind the wisdom teeth³

The oropharynx includes:

• The back third of the tongue

• The soft palate (the back part of the roof of the mouth)

• The tonsils

• The back of the throat³

What Causes Oral Cancer?

Risk factors include the following:

• Tobacco use. Ninety percent of people with oral cancers use tobacco by smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes or by chewing tobacco or dipping snuff. ⁴

• Alcohol use. Oral cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol that a person consumes. ⁴

• Sun exposure. Cancer of the lip can be caused by exposure to the sun. The risk for lip cancer increases if the person also smokes. ⁴

• Personal history of head and neck cancer. People who have had head and neck cancer are at increased risk of developing another primary head and neck cancer. Smoking increases this risk. ⁴

• Leukoplakia. This condition is characterized by a whitish patch that develops inside the mouth or throat. ⁴

• Erythroplakia. A condition characterized by a red, raised patch that develops inside the mouth. ⁴

What Are the Symptoms?

The following are common symptoms of oral cancer:

• A lip or mouth sore that does not heal⁵

• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth⁵

• A lump in your neck⁵

• Unusual bleeding in the mouth area⁵

• A chronic sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat¹

• Pain or difficulty when swallowing or chewing⁵

The symptoms of oral cancer may resemble other disorders or medical problems. Always consult with your doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible. These symptoms do not always indicate cancer. An infection or another problem can cause the same symptoms.⁵

¹ “Oral Cancer.” American Cancer Society, 2007. www.cancer.org/downloads/PRO/OralCancer.pdf Accessed 2010.

² “What Are the Key Statistics About Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers?” American Cancer Society, August 17, 2010. www.cancer.org/Cancer/OralCavityandOropharyngealCancer/DetailedGuide/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer-key-statistics Accessed 2010.

³“What Are Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers?” American Cancer Society, September 28, 2007. www.cancer.org/Cancer/OralCavityandOropharyngealCancer/DetailedGuide/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer-what-is-oral-cavity-cancer Accessed 2010.

⁴ “Oral Cancer: Who’s at Risk?” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/oral/page4 Accessed 2010.

⁵ “Symptoms.” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/oral/page5" Accessed 2010.