This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science
This page was updated on May 31, 2022.
Oral cancer develops when cancer cells grow out of control in the mouth. It can occur in the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, the teeth, the gums, most of the tongue, the bottom of the mouth and the bony roof of the mouth, or hard palate.
In some cases, it may not be possible to pinpoint the cause of a patient's oral cancer. However, there are risk factors that may increase risk for developing this cancer type.
The incidence of oral cancer is closely tied to excessive alcohol and tobacco use. For people who both smoke and drink, the risk for developing oral cancer may be 30 times as high as the risk for people who do not use tobacco or alcohol. Other major risk factors for oral cancer include gender—men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer—and age, with most patients diagnosed at 55 or older.
Symptoms of oral cancer may be mistaken for other, less serious conditions, such as a toothache or mouth sore. If seemingly benign symptoms persist, however, it's important to call a doctor, who may recommend tests to check for oral cancer.
Symptoms may include those listed below.
If these symptoms last longer than two weeks, consider requesting a diagnostic evaluation with an oncologist or otolaryngologist specifically trained in treating diseases of the mouth and throat. Oral cancer is more treatable when caught early.
A doctor or dentist may find some cancers or pre-cancers of the mouth during an exam, but most oral cancers are detected after the patient experiences signs or symptoms. Diagnosing oral cancer may involve a physical exam, including a complete head and neck exam, biopsy and imaging tests. Sometimes, blood tests and/or a dental exam are performed, as well.
Almost all oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. That’s why treatment is often guided not by the oral cancer type but by its location. Even though the oral cavity is a small space, it’s made up of many different types of tissue. The most common locations for cancer in the oral cavity are the tongue, tonsils, oropharynx (throat), gums and floor of the mouth.
Designing an oral cancer treatment plan is often determined by where the cancer originated, whether it’s spread and how severe the side effects may be. Treatment also may be influenced by the stage of oral cancer and the patient’s individual needs and treatment goals.
Oral cancer may be treated with one therapy or a combination of therapies, depending on where the cancer started and whether the disease has advanced. Surgery is often used to treat oral cancer that hasn’t spread. Surgery also is commonly used to treat advanced-stage and recurrent cancers, often in combination with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy.Surgical procedures for oral cancer include:
Because oral cancer surgery may affect patients’ physical appearance and ability to perform everyday activities, such as eating and swallowing, several surgical techniques may help restore those features and function. For example, it may be possible to reconstruct the tongue by using tissues from other areas of the body. Also, a tracheoesophageal puncture, or TEP, may be an option for patients who undergo a laryngectomy. With a TEP, the surgeon inserts a small, one-way valve between the trachea and the esophagus to help the patient. A feeding tube is another option that may be recommended for patients who experience difficulty with eating and swallowing.
Oral cancer and its treatment often cause side effects, including weight loss, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. Supportive care services may help patients prevent or manage these symptoms.
The length of time patients experience side effects from oral cancer treatment generally varies depending on the stage of the disease and the type of treatment or treatments. Some side effects may last a few weeks or months, but others may last for the rest of the patient’s life. If a feeding tube is required after treatment, for instance, it may be removed once the patient is able to eat without assistance. But some speech challenges may be permanent.Even if a patient experiences permanent side effects related to oral cancer and its treatment, supportive care services may help. Because nutrition is a common concern for oral cancer patients, registered dietitians may recommend certain foods to help support healthy digestion and nutrition, and help manage certain side effects. Naturopathic providers also may suggest supplements to prevent and treat nausea, and reduce acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, gas and diarrhea.
Supportive care providers also may monitor the patient's supplement and vitamin intake to help him or her avoid potential drug-herb and drug-nutrient interactions, while speech therapists may help address problems with dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of voice and cognitive changes.
The length of oral cancer treatments depends on a number of factors, such as the stage of the cancer, the type of treatment and individual patient needs and goals. A small cancer on the lip, for example, may be removed with surgery, but if cancer cells are later discovered to have spread to nearby areas or lymph nodes, other treatments may be recommended. Also, surgical treatments that affect the patient’s physical appearance or ability to perform basic functions may be followed by reconstructive surgeries at a later date.
After treatment ends, the care team will likely provide the patient with a schedule for follow-up appointments and tests, which are typically spaced further and further apart as time passes.
If the treatment plan includes surgery, the care team may recommend radiation and/or chemotherapy treatment afterward to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Also, even though treatment has ended, the patient may still experience certain side effects. He or she may continue regular visits with a speech therapist, for example, to help re-learn how to speak and swallow following surgery, or see a dietitian to help manage nutritional deficits that may have developed during treatment.
Because symptoms of oral cancer may mimic those of less serious conditions, awareness is important. If the patient has persistent pain in his or her mouth, or a sore that won’t go away, a diagnostic evaluation may rule out, or confirm, whether he or she has cancer. A doctor experienced in treating cancers of the oral cavity may help determine whether an evaluation is necessary, and which diagnostic tests should be performed.
Delayed or mistaken diagnoses are a significant concern in catching oral cancer early, largely because early symptoms don’t seem serious. A primary care physician may recommend an antibiotic for a mouth sore, for example, and by the time it becomes clear that the antibiotic isn’t working, it may be several weeks before the doctor recommends a visit with a specialist. That’s why experts urge patients to consider asking their primary care physicians about the possibility that such symptoms may be oral cancer, and to request a referral to a specialist if they are concerned.
Cancer recurrence is always a possibility. That’s why regular follow-up visits are recommended, so the care team can monitor the patient closely after treatment ends, especially in the first two years, when the risk of recurrence is highest. Oral cancer patients are also at risk for developing a secondary cancer, which may develop during cancer treatment or after treatment ends. Because smoking and alcohol use increases the risk for secondary cancers, while also reducing the effects of certain treatments, oral cancer patients are advised to avoid tobacco and alcohol products altogether.
Next topic: What are the facts about oral cancer?