Oral cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the mouth or throat. It belongs to a larger group of cancers called head and neck cancers. Most develop in the squamous cells found in your mouth, tongue, and lips.
More than 49,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, occurring most often in people over 40 years old. Oral cancers are most often discovered after they’ve spread to the lymph nodes of the neck. Early detection is key to surviving oral cancer. Learn about what raises your risk, its stages, and more.
Oral cancers include cancers of the:
Your dentist is often the first healthcare provider to notice signs of oral cancer. Getting biannual dental checkups can keep your dentist up to date on the health of your mouth.
One of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer is tobacco use. This includes smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, as well as chewing tobacco.
People who consume large amounts of alcohol and tobacco are at an even greater risk, especially when both products are used on a regular basis.
Other risk factors include:
- human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
- chronic facial sun exposure
- a previous diagnosis of oral cancer
- a family history of oral or other types of cancer
- a weakened immune system
- poor nutrition
- genetic syndromes
- being male
Men are twice as likely to get oral cancer as women are.
Symptoms of oral cancer include:
- a sore on your lip or mouth that won’t heal
- a mass or growth anywhere in your mouth
- bleeding from your mouth
- loose teeth
- pain or difficulty swallowing
- trouble wearing dentures
- a lump in your neck
- an earache that won’t go away
- dramatic weight loss
- lower lip, face, neck, or chin numbness
Some of these symptoms, such as a sore throat or an earache, may indicate other conditions. However, if you notice any of these symptoms, especially if they don’t go away or you have more than one at a time, visit your dentist or doctor as soon as possible.
First, your doctor or dentist will perform a physical exam. This includes closely examining the roof and floor of your mouth, the back of your throat, tongue, and cheeks, and the lymph nodes in your neck. If your doctor cannot determine
why you’re having your symptoms, you may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
If your doctor finds any tumors, growths, or suspicious lesions, they’ll perform a brush biopsy or a tissue biopsy. A brush biopsy is a painless test that collects cells from the tumor by brushing them onto a slide. A tissue biopsy involves removing a piece of the tissue so it can be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.
In addition, your doctor may perform one or more of the following tests:
- X-rays to see if cancer cells have spread to the jaw, chest, or lungs
- a CT scan to reveal any tumors in your mouth, throat, neck, lungs, or elsewhere in your body
- a PET scan to determine if the cancer has traveled to lymph nodes or other organs
- a MRI scan to show a more accurate image of the head and neck, and determine the extent or stage of the cancer
- an endoscopy to examine the nasal passages, sinuses, inner throat, windpipe, and trachea