Overview

Two of the most common types of head and neck cancer are cancer of the oral cavity (mouth and tongue) and the oropharynx (the middle of the throat from the tonsils to the tip of the voice box). Cancer begins when cells become abnormal and multiply without control or order. These cells form a growth of tissue, called a tumor. A tumor can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancerous cells can invade nearby tissue and sometimes spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and the body’s lymphatic system.

The oral cavity includes the lips, buccal mucosa (lining of the lips and cheeks), gingiva (upper and lower gums), front two-thirds of the tongue, floor of the mouth under the tongue, hard palate (roof of the mouth), and the retromolar trigone (small area behind the wisdom teeth).

The oropharynx begins where the oral cavity stops. It includes the soft palate at the back of the mouth, the part of the throat behind the mouth, the tonsils, and the base of the tongue.

The oral cavity and oropharynx, along with other parts of the head and neck, contribute to the ability to chew, swallow, breathe, and talk.

More than 90% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinoma, meaning they begin in the flat, squamous cells in the lining of the mouth and throat.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancers are among the main types of cancer in the head and neck region, a grouping called head and neck cancer. Although oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer are commonly combined using one phrase, it is important to identify exactly where the cancer began, because there are differences in treatment between the two locations.

Statistics

In 2009, an estimated 35,720 adults (25,240 men and 10,480 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. It is estimated that 7,600 deaths (5,240 men and 2,360 women) from the disease will occur this year.

Rates of oral and oropharyngeal cancer are more than twice as high in men then women. Cancer of the oral cavity ranks as the ninth most common cancer among men.

The most common sites for cancer in the oral cavity are: the tongue, which accounts for 20% to 25% of cases; floor of the mouth, 15%; the lip, 10% to 15%; and minor salivary glands, 10% to 15%.

For all stages and sites combined, about 83% of patients survive at least one year after diagnosis. The overall five-year relative survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with oral and oropharyngeal cancer is 60%, and the ten-year relative survival rate is 49%. However, survival rates for oral and oropharyngeal cancer vary widely depending on the original location and the extent of the disease.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with oral or oropharyngeal cancer. Because survival statistics are often measured in multi-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society’s publication, Cancer Facts and Figures 2009.

Find out more about basic cancer terms used in this section.