Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer or cancer of the oral cavity, is often used to describe a number of cancers that start in the region of the mouth. These most commonly occur on the lips, tongue and floor of the mouth but can also start in the cheeks, gums, roof of the mouth, tonsils and salivary glands. Mouth cancers are generally classified as head and neck cancers. While the term mouth cancer is seldom used in scientific literature nor in Australia’s official cancer data collection system, we use it here because it is used in basic information to promote cancer prevention and is easy to understand.
It is estimated that more than 600 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2022. The average age at diagnosis is 67 years old.
- a lump in your neck
- loose teeth
- swelling or a sore on your lip that won't heal
- difficult or painful swallowing
- changes in speech
- bleeding or numbness in the mouth
- white or red patches on the mouth, tongue or gums
- High Blood Sugar
- Pale colored feces
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- epstein-barr virus (EBV)
- family history of mouth cancers
- https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/mouth-cancer#:~:text=poor%20oral%20hygiene%20and%20gum%20disease
- exposure to the sun
- chewing the seed of the areca palm tree (sometimes called areca or betel nut).