Oral Cancer Learning Center

Cancer of the mouth often begins as a small sore or lump on the tongue. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and when it occurs in the mouth it is usually caused by the use of tobacco products. Consult the Oral Cancer Learning Center's Prevention section to learn how to prevent this cancer. Do you know enough about the link between nutrition and cancer? Consult the Oral Cancer Learning Center Tools for more information. Read our Health Expert's opinion about the link between oral cancer and HPV.

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the US, but tragically, there have been no significant strides in improving survival rates in the past 30 years. We lack reliable early detection techniques and by the time people with oral cancer seek medical help, the disease is often advanced. That is one reason it is important for you to know the symptoms of mouth cancer, especially if you use tobacco products and are over age 40.

If you are diagnosed with oral cancer, it is imperative to get the right treatment. A multidisciplinary setting with a tumor board and support services is the best setting for patients who have advanced-stage mouth cancer. Unlike other cancers, where the preferred treatment is chemoradiation, surgery is often the treatment of choice for mouth cancers. Expert treatment is important to determine staging, lymph node involvement and the presence of distant metastases.

You are never too old for good oral hygiene. Take good care of your teeth and mouth. See your dentist and dental hygienist regularly for dental care and preventive care. Any mouth sore that does not go away after two weeks is cause for concern and may be an early sign of mouth cancer.