Oral Cancer

Overview

Oral cancer, or mouth cancer, can develop in any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, hard and soft palates, salivary glands, lining of the cheeks, floor of the mouth (under the tongue), gums, and teeth. It is often discussed with oropharyngeal cancer, which pertains to cancer of the throat area at the back of the mouth. Most often, tumors begin on the floor of the mouth, on the tongue, or in the surface areas of the mouth.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer are similar in symptoms and treatment. In these types of cancer, cancer cells spread through the lymphatic system, and can recur in other areas, particularly if post-treatment recommendations are not followed.

Incidence and Prevalence
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 31,000 cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2006, and that about 7400 deaths will result from these diseases.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are roughly twice as common in men as in women, and the conditions occur more often in African-Americans than Caucasians. Hungary and France have higher oral cancer rates than the United States and Mexico and Japan have lower rates. Currently, the diagnosis and death rates from oral cancer are dropping in the United States.

Causes and Risk Factors

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Risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancers include the use of tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and dipping snuff. According to the American Cancer Society, 90% of patients who develop mouth cancer use tobacco, and smokers are 6 times more likely to develop oral cancer than nonsmokers. The longer patients use tobacco, the higher the risk. Secondhand smoke is a related risk factor.

Alcohol use also increases oral and oropharyngeal cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, alcohol users account for 75% to 80% of all oral cancer patients. People who use tobacco and alcohol simultaneously run the most serious risk for developing these cancers.

Sun and ultraviolet light can cause cancer of the lip. In many cases, patients who develop this type of cancer work outside in the direct sun.

Other risk factors associated with oral and oropharyngeal cancers include Plummer-Vinson syndrome (a rare condition of iron deficiency and abnormalities in the oral cavity), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, poor diet, and some medications used to treat immune system diseases and patients who have undergone an organ transplant.

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