Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Key points

• • Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas of the lining of the mouth, tongue, cheek or floor of the mouth.
• • The main risks are chewing tobacco and areca (betel) nut, smoking and alcohol, which act together.
• • It is often preceded by premalignant white or red patches (leukoplakia and erythroplakia), so these are watched.
• • A cancer appears as a non-healing ulcer or lump with raised, firm edges, sometimes with pain, bleeding or loose teeth.
• • It spreads to the lymph nodes of the neck, so a neck lump may be the first sign.