Tongue and Oral Cavity Cancers

The oral cavity is the area that begins at the inner surface of the lips and includes the front part of the tongue that lies within the mouth, the floor of the mouth, the gums, the inner cheeks and the hard palate. Cancers arising from the thin lining tissue (mucosa) of this area form a distinct group among head and neck cancers. Because the inside of the mouth can be seen with the eye and examined by hand, changes here can often be noticed at an early stage; a sore that does not heal, a white or red patch, a firm area or a thickening may be the first signs.

The pages in this section cover tongue cancer, oral cavity cancers in general, cancer of the floor of the mouth, and cancers of the gum and inner cheek, each on its own page. Every page explains in plain language what the disease is, which symptoms it presents with, how the diagnosis is made and how treatment is planned. A separate page summarises the diagnostic and treatment approach to oral cancers as a whole; another describes what you can expect during recovery after tongue and oral cavity surgery.

The information here is for general education and does not replace an individual assessment. If you have noticed a sore, patch or swelling in your mouth that has not gone away for several weeks, the right step is to be examined by a doctor.