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Oral cancer forms in the mouth, including on the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, the teeth, the gums, the tongue, the bottom of the mouth and the roof of the mouth. Symptoms of oral cancer often mimic symptoms of less serious conditions, such as a mouth sore that won’t go away, so knowing the signs of the disease is important. Knowing risk factors is also vital. Most patients with this disease use tobacco and/or alcohol.
Treatment typically depends on where in the mouth the cancer originated. Because oral cancer and its treatments often affect the patient’s physical appearance and ability to eat and perform other everyday activities, surgical reconstructive techniques may be an option.
Explore this section to learn more about oral cancer—how it develops, what causes it, and how it's treated.
What you should know after an oral cancer diagnosis
Treatment options
The type of treatment your doctor recommends for oral cancer depends on where the tumor is located and how far the cancer has spread. Common treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and targeted therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is typically reserved for patients whose cancer has metastasized to the bones or elsewhere in the body.
Radiation therapy
Two primary types of radiation therapy are used to treat oral cancer: external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy.
Surgery
Early-stage disease is typically treated with surgery.
Targeted therapy
Certain targeted therapy drugs that kill tumor cells and slow down disease growth may be a treatment option for some patients.
Supportive care
Treatment for oral cancer may cause side effects that interfere with treatment and your ability to stay nourished. For example, it may be necessary to use a feeding tube while undergoing treatment. Certain treatments also may affect your energy level and ability to perform everyday tasks. Our supportive care clinicians help you manage these side effects, so you are better able to fight the disease and get back to your life. Supportive care therapies for oral cancer patients may include:
Nutritional support
Every patient has the option of meeting with a registered dietitian.
Learn More
Learn about oral cancer
Oral cancer begins in the mouth, also called the oral cavity. This region of the body includes the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks (called the buccal mucosa), the teeth, the gums, most of the tongue, the bottom of the mouth, and the bony roof of the mouth, or hard palate. This disease may develop in the oropharynx, which is the part of the throat located just behind the mouth. When cancer develops here, it is called oropharyngeal cancer or throat cancer, and it may also affect the back of the tongue, the back of the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the walls of the upper throat.
The oral cavity and oropharynx are key to the healthy functioning of the body. They help us breathe, eat and speak. Salivary glands in the oral cavity start breaking down food as we chew, an essential part of digestion.
Tumors can develop in any part of the oral cavity. Because each part of the oral cavity is different, oral cancer encompasses a wide variety of cancer types that are treated in different ways.
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