Oral cancer
Cancer - mouth; Mouth cancer; Head and neck cancer - oral; Squamous cell cancer - mouth; Malignant neoplasm - oral; Oropharyngeal cancer - HPV; Carcinoma - mouthOral cancer is cancer that starts in the mouth.
Causes
Oral cancer most commonly involves the lips or the tongue. It may also occur on the:
- Cheek lining
- Floor of the mouth
- Gums (gingiva)
- Roof of the mouth (palate)
Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly.
Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to most cases of oral cancer. Heavy alcohol use also increases the risk for oral cancer.
Smoking and other tobacco use
Knowing the serious health risks of using tobacco may help motivate you to quit. Using tobacco over a long time can increase your risk for many heal...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAlcohol use
Alcohol use disorder is when your drinking causes serious problems in your life, yet you keep drinking. You may also need more and more alcohol to f...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection (the same virus that causes genital warts) account for a larger number of oral cancers than in the past. One type of HPV, type 16 or HPV-16, is much more commonly associated with almost all oral cancers.
Genital warts
Genital warts are soft growths on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals. They may be found on the penis, vulva, urethra, vagina, cervix, and...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOther factors that may increase the risk for oral cancer include:
- Long-term (chronic) rubbing, such as from rough teeth, dentures, or fillings
- Taking medicines (immunosuppressants) that weaken the immune system
- Poor dental and oral hygiene
Poor dental and oral hygiene
Tooth decay and gum disease are caused by plaque, a sticky combination of bacteria and food. Plaque begins to build up on teeth within a few minutes...
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Some oral cancers begin as a white plaque (leukoplakia) or as a mouth ulcer.
Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia are white patches on the tongue, in the mouth, or on the inside of the cheek.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMen develop oral cancer twice as often as women do. It is more common in men older than 40.
Symptoms
Oral cancer can appear as a lump or ulcer in the mouth that may be:
- A deep, hard-edged crack in the tissue
- Pale, dark red, or discolored
- On the tongue, lip, or other area of the mouth
- Painless at first, then a burning sensation or pain when the tumor is more advanced
Other symptoms may include::
- Chewing problems
- Mouth sores that may bleed
Mouth sores
There are different types of mouth sores. They can occur anywhere in the mouth including bottom of the mouth, inner cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Pain with swallowing
- Speech difficulties
- Swallowing difficulty
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Swollen lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are present throughout your body. They are an important part of your immune system. Lymph nodes help your body recognize and fight germ...
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Tongue problems
Tongue problems include pain, swelling, or a change in how the tongue looks or functions.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Weight loss
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Numbness and loosening of teeth
- Bad breath
Exams and Tests
Your health care provider or dentist will examine your mouth area. The exam may show:
- A sore on the lip, tongue, gum, cheeks, or other area of the mouth
- An ulcer or bleeding
A biopsy of the sore or ulcer will be done. This tissue will also be tested for HPV.
Biopsy of the sore or ulcer
A tongue biopsy is a minor surgery that is done to remove a small piece of the tongue. The tissue is then examined under a microscope.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCT, MRI, and PET scans may be done to determine if the cancer has spread.
CT
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
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A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
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A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...
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Surgery to remove the tumor is recommended if the tumor is small enough.
If the tumor has spread to more tissue or nearby lymph nodes, a larger surgery is done. The amount of tissue and the number of lymph nodes that are removed depend on how far the cancer has spread.
Larger surgery is done
Neck dissection is surgery to examine and remove the lymph nodes in the neck.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSurgery may be used together with radiation therapy and chemotherapy for larger tumors.
Radiation therapy
When you have radiation treatment for cancer, your body goes through changes. Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for you...
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The term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOther treatments may include:
- Targeted therapy, which uses drugs to stop cancer from growing and spreading .
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy uses medicines to stop cancer from growing and spreading. It does this with less harm to normal cells than other treatments. Stand...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Immunotherapy, which uses substances made by the body or in a lab to help the immune system work harder or in a more targeted way to fight cancer .
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that relies on the body's infection-fighting system (immune system). It uses substances made by the body...
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Depending on what type of treatment you require, supportive treatments that may be needed include:
- Speech therapy.
- Therapy to help with chewing and swallowing.
Chewing and swallowing
Difficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This proble...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Learning to eat enough protein and calories to keep your weight up. Ask your provider about liquid food supplements that can help.
Enough protein and calories to keep you...
If you are sick or undergoing cancer treatment, you may not feel like eating. But it is important to get enough protein and calories so you do not l...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Help with dry mouth.
Dry mouth
Some cancer treatments and medicines can cause dry mouth. Take good care of your mouth during your cancer treatment. Follow the measures outlined b...
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Support Groups
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Cancer support group
The following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOutlook (Prognosis)
About one half of people with oral cancer will live more than 5 years after they are diagnosed and treated. If the cancer is found early, before it has spread to other tissues, the cure rate ranges from 59% to 94% depending on where the cancer is located. More than half of oral cancers have spread when the cancer is detected. Most have spread to the throat or neck.
Cancers that test positive for HPV appear to respond better to treatment and may have a better outlook. Also, those who smoked for less than 10 years may do better.
People who require larger doses of radiation along with chemotherapy are more likely to have more severe problems with swallowing.
Oral cancers can recur if tobacco or alcohol use is not stopped.
Possible Complications
Complications of oral cancer may include:
- Complications of radiation therapy, including dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
- Disfigurement of the face, head, and neck after surgery
- Other spread (metastasis) of the cancer
Metastasis)
Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
Oral cancer may be discovered when the dentist does a routine cleaning and examination.
Contact your provider if you have a sore in your mouth or lip or a lump in the neck that does not go away within one month. Early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer greatly increases the chance of survival.
Prevention
Oral cancer may be prevented by:
- Avoiding smoking or other tobacco use
- Having dental problems corrected
- Limiting or avoiding alcohol use
- Visiting the dentist regularly and practicing good oral hygiene
The HPV vaccine recommended for children and young adults targets HPV sub-types most likely to cause oral cancers. They have been shown to prevent most oral HPV infections and 90% of cancers caused by HPV.
HPV vaccine
All content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/vi...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleReferences
Kerr AR, Miller CS, Rhodus NL, Stoopler ET, Treister NS. Cancer and oral care of patients with cancer. In: Kerr AR, Miller CS, Rhodus NL, Stoopler ET, Treister NS, eds. Little and Falace's Dental Management of the Medically Compromised Patient. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 26.
National Cancer Institute website. Oropharyngeal cancer treatment (adult) (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/hp/adult/oropharyngeal-treatment-pdq#link/_528. Updated September 5, 2023. Accessed January 16, 2024.
Rettig E, Fakhry C, Gourin CG. Human papillomavirus and the epidemiology of head and neck cancer. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Francis HW, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 74.
Wein RO, Weber RS. Malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Francis HW, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 91.
Throat anatomy - illustration
Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.
Throat anatomy
illustration
Mouth anatomy - illustration
The mouth is the origination of the digestive tract. The teeth and salivary glands aid in breaking down food for digestion. The tonsils aid against infections.
Mouth anatomy
illustration
Throat anatomy - illustration
Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.
Throat anatomy
illustration
Mouth anatomy - illustration
The mouth is the origination of the digestive tract. The teeth and salivary glands aid in breaking down food for digestion. The tonsils aid against infections.
Mouth anatomy
illustration
Review Date: 12/31/2023
Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.