Oral cancer is cancer found in the oral cavity (the mouth area) and the oropharynx (the throat area at the back of the mouth). Oral cancer, which can be deadly, is diagnosed in approximately 30,000 Americans each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

The oral cavity includes the following:

• the lips, teeth, and gums
• the lining inside the lips and cheeks (buccal mucosa)
• the floor of the mouth (under the tongue)
• the top of the mouth (hard palate)
• the small area behind the wisdom teeth

The oropharynx includes the following:

• the back one-third of the tongue
• the soft palate
• the tonsils <
• the back of the throat

Oral Cancer Facts

• The American Cancer Society estimates about 30,100 new cases (20,200 in men and 9,900 in women) of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 2001. An estimated 7,800 people (5,100 men and 2,700 women) will die of oral cavity and oropharynx cancer in 2001.
• Eighty-two percent of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer patients survive at least one year after diagnosis. For all stages combined, the 5-year survival rate is 51percent and the 10-year survival is rate 48 percent. These survival rates have not changed much in the last 20 years.
• When patients newly diagnosed with oral and oropharynx cancers are carefully examined, about 15 percent will have another cancer in nearby areas such as the larynx (voice box), esophagus (the part of the digestive system between the throat and stomach), or lung. Another 10 to 40 percent will develop cancer of one of these organs or a second cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx at a later time. For this reason, it is very important for patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer to have follow-up examinations for the rest of their lives and avoid risk factors, such as smoking and drinking, which increase the risk for these second cancers.
  Source: American Cancer Society

What causes oral cancer?
The main causes of oral cancer include the following:

• tobacco use (80 to 90 percent of oral cancers are caused by smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and dipping snuff)
• alcohol use

Other causes of oral cancer may include the following:

• leukoplakia - a condition characterized by a whitish patch that develops inside the mouth or throat.
• erythroplakia - a condition characterized by a red, raised patch that develops inside the mouth.
• excessive sun exposure, which, like elsewhere on the body, can cause cancer on the lip