Basic knowledge about Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in any part of the mouth. In the United States alone, oral cancers are the sixth most common type of cancer. These types of cancer may occur in the tongue, lips, gums, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, cheek, jawbone, sinuses, inside the cheeks, throat, tonsils, palate, teeth, salivary glands, and lymph nodes near the neck.

In the U.S., almost 90 percent of oral cancers are caused by tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor diet, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, and chronic irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth. Other factors include genetic predisposition, exposure to radiation, and certain medications.

The symptoms of oral cancer vary depending on where the cancer is located. Most often, patients experience painless swelling, redness, ulceration, bleeding, white patches, and lumps in the affected area. If left untreated, oral cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes and bones. Early detection of oral cancer is critical for successful treatment.