Overview

What Is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is a malignancy arising from any part of the oral cavity. This can be an ulcer (sore) or a growth.

Oral cancer includes:

• Cancer of the tongue
• Floor of mouth
• Buccal mucosa (inner lining of the cheek)
• Hard palate
• Retromolar trigone (the area between the back parts of the upper and lower gums)
• Upper and lower gingiva (gums)

Cancer of the lip is frequently also included in the category of oral cancers.

All oral cavity cancers have a tendency to metastasize (spread) to the lymph nodes of the neck. Generally, cancer spreading outside the head and neck is uncommon unless the cancer is quite advanced.