Oral Cancer: Risk Factors, Warning Signs and Treatment

Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth, one of the head and neck cancers. Most are squamous cell cancers, which begin in the flat cells lining the mouth, tongue and lips and may spread into deeper tissue as they grow. Most oral cancers are linked to tobacco use, heavy drinking or infection with HPV.

Who is at higher risk

Anyone can develop oral cancer, but it is more likely in people who:

• use tobacco or drink heavily, and especially those who do both
• are male
• are over 40
• have HPV
• have had head or neck cancer before
• are often in the sun (for cancer of the lip)

Symptoms

• a white or red patch in the mouth
• a sore on the lip or in the mouth that does not heal
• bleeding, pain or numbness in the lip or mouth
• loose teeth, or dentures that no longer fit well
• trouble or pain swallowing
• a lump in the neck
• ear pain
• trouble moving the mouth or jaw, or swelling of the jaw
• a sore throat, or a feeling that something is caught in the throat

See a health care provider or dentist about any of these that last more than two weeks. Oral cancer can spread quickly, so finding it early matters.

Diagnosis

A provider may examine the lips and mouth, use an endoscope, take a biopsy or other sample of cells from the lip or mouth to check under a microscope, and order imaging tests.

Treatment

Treatment is surgery, radiation therapy or both. After surgery, some people also need chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Prevention

• Don't smoke.
• Drink less alcohol, or none.
• Get regular dental checkups.

Sources

• MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), "Oral Cancer," from the National Cancer Institute. https://medlineplus.gov/oralcancer.html