Mouth Cancer

Cancer of the Mouth and Throat Overview

The oral cavity (mouth) and the upper part of the throat (pharynx) have roles in many important functions, including breathing, talking, chewing, and swallowing. The mouth and upper throat are sometimes referred to as the oropharynx. The important structures of the mouth and upper throat include the following:

Lips

Inside lining of the cheeks (buccal mucosa)

Teeth

Gums

Tongue

Floor of the mouth

Back of the throat, including the tonsils (oropharynx)

Roof of the mouth (the bony front part [hard palate] and the softer rear part [soft palate])

Area behind the wisdom teeth

Salivary glands

Many different cell types make up these different structures. Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation whereby they grow and multiply without normal controls.

As the cells multiply, they form small abnormalities called lesions. Eventually, they form a mass called a tumor.

Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means that, because of their uncontrolled growth, they encroach on and invade neighboring tissues.

Malignant tumors may spread to neighboring tissues by direct invasion or by traveling along lymphatic vessels and nerves or through the blood stream.

They may also travel to remote organs via the bloodstream.

This process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis.

Tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space and taking the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive and function.

Tumors in the mouth and throat include both benign and malignant types.

Benign tumors, although they may grow and penetrate below the surface layer of tissue, do not spread by metastasis to other parts of the body.

Benign tumors of the oropharynx are not discussed here.