Oral cancer occurs in the tongue, lips, and floor of the mouth, but it can also begin in the gums, minor salivary glands, lining of the lips and cheeks, and roof of the mouth. (2) Oral cancer is most commonly found in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the mouth and throat, including the lips and oral cavity. (3) If diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate for oral cancer is 86 percent, compared to 40 percent if it’s caught at a more advanced stage. (1)
A mouth sore that does not healMouth painWhite or red patches that appear on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or inner lining of the mouthVoice changesA lump in the neckWeight lossBad breathChanges to the voicePain in the jawLoose teethA swollen jawTrouble chewing, swallowing, or moving the tongue and jaw (8)
Stage 0
The cancer is still within the top layer of cells lining the oral cavity. It has not yet grown into deeper layers and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant sites.
Stage 1
The cancer is 2 centimeters (cm) or smaller and is not growing into nearby tissues. It also hasn’t spread to distant sites or lymph nodes.
Stage 2
The cancer is between 2 and 4 cm. It has not grown into nearby tissues, spread to nearby lymph nodes, or spread to distant sites.
Stage 3
In stage 3, two scenarios could occur:
The cancer hasn’t spread to nearby lymph nodes or to distant sites, but the cancer is larger than 4 cm.The cancer is any size and has spread to one lymph node on the same side as the primary tumor. In this case, the cancer has not grown outside of the lymph node, which is no larger than 3 cm, and hasn’t spread to distant sites.
Stage 4
Three scenarios qualify an oral cancer as stage 4. The medical community uses letters to designate them, with A being the least serious and C being the most serious. While stage 4 is the most serious of the four stages and may sound scary, it still does not mean the oral cancer is beyond a cure.
Stage 4A The cancer is any size and growing into nearby structures, which can include nearby bone such as the jawbone, the floor of the mouth, the skin of the chin or nose, deep muscles in the tongue, or the maxillary sinus. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes, or it has spread to one lymph node smaller than 3 cm on the same side as the main tumor. Another stage 4A situation is when the cancer is any size and may have grown into nearby structures but has not spread to distant organs. It’s also spread to one of the following:
One lymph nodeMore than one lymph node but is not greater than 6 cmOne or more lymph nodes on any side but has not grown outside of the nodes and none are larger than 6 cm
Stage 4B The cancer is any size and has grown into nearby soft tissues or structures. It has not spread to distant organs, but any of the following are also occurring:
Another stage 4B possibility is that the cancer is any size and growing into nearby structures such as bone. It might not have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs, but it’s known to be very advanced.
Stage 4C The cancer is any size and may have grown into nearby soft tissues or structures, and it may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. It has spread to distant sites such as the lungs. (9) Celebrities with oral and throat cancer include Michael Douglas, Eddie Van Halen, and George Harrison. (12) Tongue cancer is the most common form of oral cancer in the United States and is at a high risk of spreading to the lymph nodes, according to Penn Medicine. Mouth cancer, which includes any part of the mouth, such as the gums and tongue, is often treated first with surgery. Mouth reconstruction is sometimes necessary after surgery. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy may also be used. (13) Lip cancer, another common form of oral cancer, is treated based on the size, location, and stage of the cancer. Surgery is typically the first treatment option if the cancer is detected early, but it may also be included in late-stage treatment. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy will be used if necessary. (13) Radiation therapy has become much more precise in recent years and has been designed to spare healthy tissue and shorten procedure times. External-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy are the two most common radiation therapies used to treat mouth cancer. (13) According to Dr. Schmidt, people with oral cancer greatly benefited from medical advancements in the early 1980s, when surgeons and plastic surgeons started transferring tissue from other regions of the body to rebuild the head and neck, an operation called microvascular tissue transfer. Still, quality of life may be impacted by the treatment. “Some patients go from eating, drinking, talking, having a normal work and social life to a situation where they can’t go out to dinner, they can’t eat things by mouth, they have to be fed through a stomach tube, they can’t talk, and oftentimes they can’t smell,” says Schmidt. “It can have a drastic impact on quality of life.”
Avoid tobacco. Tobacco and tobacco combined with alcohol consumption are two of the leading causes of oral cancer.Reduce sun exposure. The Mayo Clinic recommends reducing sun exposure to your lips by staying in the shade, wearing a hat, and applying lip products with SPF.Visit a dentist regularly. Often, a dentist is the first person to spot oral cancer, since they’re looking at the oral cavity.
