What Is Mouth Cancer?
![Early signs of mouth cancer include a sore in the mouth that doesn't heal; a white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth; or loose teeth.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/what-does-early-stages-of-mouth-cancer-look-like.jpg?output-quality=75)
Mouth cancer (oral cavity cancer or oral cancer) is cancer that occurs when cells in the mouth grow out of control.
The oral cavity includes:
- The lips
- The inside lining of the lips and cheeks (buccal mucosa)
- The teeth
- The gums
- The front two-thirds of the tongue
- The floor of the mouth below the tongue
- The bony roof of the mouth (hard palate)
- The area behind the wisdom teeth (retromolar trigone) may be included as a part of the oral cavity, but it's usually considered part of the oropharynx
What Are Symptoms of Mouth Cancer?
Early stages of mouth cancer may look like:
- Sore in the mouth that doesn't heal (the most common symptom)
- White or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Lump or thickening in the cheek
- Lump or mass in the neck
Other symptoms of mouth (oral cavity) cancers include:
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away (also very common)
- Sore throat
- Feeling that something is stuck in the throat
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
- Numbness of the tongue or other part of the mouth
- Jaw swelling that results in dentures not fitting properly or becoming uncomfortable
- Pain around the teeth or jaw
- Changes in voice
- Weight loss
- Constant bad breath
What Causes Mouth Cancer?
The exact cause of mouth cancer is not known, but risk factors for developing mouth cancer include:
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Heavy alcohol use
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections
- Betel quid and gutka use
- Betel quid is made of areca nut (betel nut), spices, lime, and other ingredients
- It is commonly chewed in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other areas of the world
- Gender
- Twice as common in men as in women
- It is thought this is due to more men using tobacco and alcohol
- Age
- Most oral cancers occur in adults over age 55
- Ultraviolet (UV) light
- Responsible for cancers of the lip in people who are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time
- Poor nutrition
- Diets low in fruits and vegetables are linked with an increased risk of oral cancers
- Weakened immune system
- Lichen planus
- Graft-versus-host disease
- Certain genetic syndromes
- Fanconi anemia
- Dyskeratosis
How Is Mouth Cancer Diagnosed?
Mouth cancer is diagnosed with a patient history and a physical examination of the mouth, head, and neck.
Tests used to confirm a diagnosis of oral cancer include:
- Biopsy
- Imaging tests
- Chest x-ray
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Barium swallow
- Blood tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- To check for nutritional deficiencies
- Tests to check for liver disease and kidney disease
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) or pulmonary function tests (PFTs) if surgery is planned
- Dental exam
What Is the Treatment for Mouth Cancer?
Treatment for mouth (oral cavity) cancers includes:
- Surgery
- Removal of the tumor and a margin (edge) of normal-looking tissue around it (tumor resection)
- Mohs micrographic surgery (for some cancers of the lip)
- Glossectomy (removal of the tongue)
- Mandibulectomy (removal of the jaw bone)
- Maxillectomy (removal of the hard palate, which is the front part of the roof of the mouth)
- Robotic surgery
- Laryngectomy (removal of the voice box)
- Dental extraction and implants
- Radiation therapy
- External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
- Brachytherapy (also called internal radiation or interstitial radiation)
- Chemotherapy
- Cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ)
- Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
- 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Paclitaxel (Taxol)
- Docetaxel (Taxotere)
- Hydroxyurea (Hydrea, Droxia)
- Methotrexate (Otrexup, Xatmep, Trexall)
- Bleomycin (Bleo 15K)
- Capecitabine (Xeloda)
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors
- pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
- nivolumab (Opdivo)
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Palliative treatment
- Pain management
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Opioids
- Nutrition
- Feeding tube if needed
What Is the Life Expectancy for Mouth Cancer?
Life expectancy for mouth (oral cavity) cancers is often expressed in 5-year survival rates, that is, how many people will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.
Lip cancer 5-year survival rates:
- Localized (no sign the cancer has spread outside the organ where it started, for example, the lip, tongue, or floor of mouth): 92%
- Regional (cancer has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes): 60%
- Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as to the lungs): 28%
Tongue cancer 5-year survival rates:
- Localized (no sign the cancer has spread outside the organ where it started, for example, the lip, tongue, or floor of mouth): 81%
- Regional (cancer has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes): 68%
- Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as to the lungs): 39%
Floor of the mouth cancer 5-year survival rates:
- Localized (no sign the cancer has spread outside the organ where it started, for example, the lip, tongue, or floor of mouth): 77%
- Regional (cancer has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes): 38%
- Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as to the lungs): 20%
How Do You Prevent Mouth Cancer?
Some cases of mouth (oral) cancers can be prevented.
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