Oral Cancer

Summary

Oral cancer can form in any part of the mouth. Most oral cancers begin in the flat cells that cover the surfaces of your mouth, tongue, and lips. Anyone can get oral cancer, but the risk is higher if you are male, use tobacco, drink lots of alcohol, have HPV, or have a history of head or neck cancer. Frequent sun exposure is also a risk factor for lip cancer.

Symptoms of oral cancer include :

• White or red patches in your mouth
• A mouth sore that won’t heal
• Bleeding in your mouth
• Loose teeth
• Problems or pain with swallowing
• A lump in your neck
• An earache

Tests to diagnose oral cancer include a physical exam, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging tests. Oral cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Some patients have a combination of treatments.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma American Society of Clinical Oncology
• General Information about Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer National Cancer Institute

Encyclopedia

• After chemotherapy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Gum biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Mouth and neck radiation – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Oropharynx lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
• Find an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Statistics and Research

• Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx National Cancer Institute
• Key Statistics about Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers American Cancer Society

Children

• Childhood Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment National Cancer Institute

Related Issues

• Cigar Smoking and Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Difficulty Chewing American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Mouth Sores and Pain American Cancer Society
• Swallowing Problems American Cancer Society

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mouth Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Tongue Neoplasms National Institutes of Health

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute

Patient Handouts

• Leukoplakia Medical Encyclopedia
• Oral cancer Medical Encyclopedia
• Swallowing problems Medical Encyclopedia
• Tongue biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Mouth Cancer Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Oral Cancer National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Oral Cancer Facts Oral Cancer Foundation

Living With

• Mouth Dryness or Thick Saliva American Cancer Society

Diagnosis and Tests

• Mouth Growths Merck & Co., Inc.
• Oral Cancer Exam National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Oral Cavity and Nasopharyngeal Cancers Screening National Cancer Institute
• Panoramic Dental X-Ray Radiological Society of North America

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Oral Cavity, Oropharyngeal, Hypopharyngeal, and Laryngeal Cancers Prevention National Cancer Institute
• Oral, Head, and Neck Pathology American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Journal Articles

• Oral Cancer

Español/Spanish

• Tongue Cancer Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Treatments and Therapies

• Treatment Options for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer by Stage American Cancer Society