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Tongue, lip, and floor of mouth
- The tongue, lip, and floor of mouth are the most common oral cancer sites.
www.healthline.com/health/oral-cancer/types-of-oral-cancer
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What is the most common type of mouth cancer?
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Find out about mouth cancer, including what the symptoms are, what to do if you think you have it, how it is treated, and where to get support.
- Symptoms
Main symptoms of mouth cancer. Symptoms of mouth cancer can...
- Treatment
The treatment you'll have for mouth cancer depends on: the...
- Causes
Mouth cancer has also been linked to having changes in your...
- What is Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer, also called oral cancer, can affect any part...
- Diagnosis
Main tests for mouth cancer. If a dentist or GP refers you...
- Help and Support
There are also national cancer charities that can offer...
- Symptoms
The most common symptom of mouth cancer is a mouth ulcer or sore that does not heal in 3 weeks. The areas that may be affected include the: inside of the cheeks; roof of the mouth; lip; gum; tongue. If you have an ulcer or sore, your GP may refer you to see a specialist within 2 weeks. This is called an urgent referral.
Oct 10, 2024 · Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of mouth cancer, accounting for nine out of 10 cases. Squamous cells are found in many places around the body, including the inside of the mouth and under the skin.
5 days ago · The most common symptom of mouth cancer is an ulcer or sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal or go away over time. It is typical of the early stages of the disease. These ulcers may appear as blisters, cracks, or splits on the lining of the mouth. If the ulcer doesn’t heal after 3 weeks, it is usually a cause for concern.
- Overview
- Types of oral cancer by cell type
- Lip cancer
- Tongue cancer
- Inner cheek cancer
- Floor of mouth cancer
- Gum cancer
- Hard palate cancer
- Oropharyngeal (throat) cancer
- Early indications of mouth cancer
The cell type and location of oral cancer can influence your treatment options and outlook.
“Oral cancer” is an umbrella term that includes cancers that develop in your mouth and throat areas. These can include your lips, tongue, gums, and the back of your throat.
Your symptoms, treatment, and outlook depend on where cancer develops and the kinds of cells involved.
Here’s what you need to know about the various types of oral cancer and how they differ by location and cell type.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). These tumors develop within the thin squamous cells that line your mouth and throat. SCCs are treatable in the early stages with surgery and radiation therapy. However, these cancers may spread into deeper layers of tissues around the oral cavity.
Verrucous carcinoma
Verrucous carcinoma is a subtype of SCC. It’s a slow growing cancer and usually doesn’t spread. Common symptoms of oral verrucous carcinoma include bad breath, pain, and difficulty swallowing.
Minor salivary gland carcinoma
Minor salivary gland carcinomas are also relatively rare forms of oral cancer. Most cases develop in the mouth. The cancer may also occur in the soft palate, sinuses, or voice box. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy may treat minor salivary gland cancer.
A persistent sore on your lip that won’t heal can be a sign of lip cancer. Primary causes of lip cancer include sun exposure, tobacco use, and heavy alcohol use.
The two main treatment options for lip cancer are surgery and radiation therapy. While treatable, lip cancers may spread to the neck or head.
Tongue cancers may be linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
Common signs include unexplained lumps or spots on the tongue that won’t heal. Other symptoms may include white or red patches on your tongue, burning, and pain.
Buccal mucosa (inner cheek) cancer is a type of oral cancer that develops within the buccal mucosa tissues that line the inside of your cheeks. Heavy alcohol use and using tobacco products are two major risk factors.
A dentist may first detect signs of inner cheek cancer by noticing lumps or patches along the area. You might also experience symptoms, such as pain or discomfort extending from your mouth to your jaw and throat.
Often mistaken as canker sores, floor of mouth cancer consists of tumors that develop in the area underneath your tongue. It primarily develops from chewing tobacco. Other risk factors include smoking and heavy alcohol use.
Floor of mouth cancer can cause painful lumps or patches under your tongue and general mouth and neck pain.
Gum cancer begins in the cells of your gumline and may affect either your upper or lower gums.
The symptoms of gum cancer are similar to gingivitis and can include bleeding and sensitive gums. Other signs include patches on your gums or thickening of the tissues.
Gum cancer has a high cure rate when diagnosed early. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Surgery is often the first-line treatment. If your upper gums are affected, a surgeon may remove cells from the roof of your mouth. Lower gum cancer may involve surgery around your jawbone and neck lymph nodes.
Hard palate cancer affects the front area of the roof of your mouth. It usually develops from tobacco use. Alcohol use, poor oral hygiene, and HPV infections are other risk factors.
Early symptoms include difficulty swallowing, bad breath, and bleeding from the mouth.
Oropharyngeal cancer describes cancers that affect the middle of your throat.
“Throat cancer” is a general way to describe different cancers that may affect the throat area. One such type is oropharyngeal cancer. It affects the middle part of your throat, including your:
•soft palate
•tonsils
•side and back walls of your throat
•back of your tongue
Persistent sores, discomfort, and irritation that last longer than 2 weeks may be signs of something a doctor needs to evaluate.
Specific early signs of mouth cancers may include:
•an unusual lump or sore that won’t heal
•difficulty with chewing or swallowing
•an unexplainable white or red patch inside your mouth
•numbness, pain, or bleeding
- Kristeen Cherney
Mouth cancer can start anywhere in the oral cavity. This includes the: lips. inside lining of the cheeks and lips (buccal mucosa) front two thirds of the tongue. gums (gingiva) floor of the mouth. roof of the mouth (hard palate) area behind the wisdom teeth (retromolar trigone) The mouth and oropharynx help us breathe, talk, eat, chew and swallow.
Mouth cancer can develop in most parts of the mouth, including the lips, gums and occasionally the throat. Mouth cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world, but it's much less common in the UK. Around 6,800 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer each year in the UK, which is about 2% of all cancers diagnosed.
