Oral Cancer

What Is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer happens in or around your mouth. It can affect your:

• lips
• tongue
• gums
• cheeks
• upper or lower jaw

Oral cancer and its treatment can cause speech problems if they change how parts of your mouth move or their size. It can also make it hard to chew or swallow.

What Are the Signs Of Oral Cancer?

Some signs of oral cancer may be:

• a red or white patch or lump in your mouth for more than a month
• a sore in your mouth that bleeds easily or does not heal
• numbness or swelling of the tongue or other areas of the mouth
• loose teeth
• pain in the mouth or ear—or pain when swallowing
• problems chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue and jaw

What Are the Causes of Oral Cancer?

Things that increase the risk of oral cancer include:

• smoking
• using smokeless tobacco, such as plug, leaf, and snuff
• drinking a lot of alcohol
• too much sun on your lips
• exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV)

What Does the Testing for Oral Cancer Look Like?

Dentists and doctors are often the first to notice signs of oral cancer. The doctor may take a sample of the tissue in your mouth, called a biopsy. Your doctor will test the tissue for signs of cancer. Another way to check for oral cancer is for your doctor to test your saliva.

An SLP can provide support before or after your cancer treatment. Before cancer treatment, the SLP can listen to how you talk. During or after your cancer treatment, the SLP will look at how you move your mouth, speak, eat, and drink.

What Are the Treatments for Oral Cancer?

There are different ways to treat oral cancer, including:

• surgery
• radiation
• chemotherapy
• immunotherapy
• a combination of these

Your doctor will talk about all options and how they will affect you.

An SLP can help you get used to the changes in your mouth after treatment. The SLP can also help you learn how to make sounds more clearly.

Treatment for swallowing problems may include changing the types of food you eat. You also may learn new head positions or exercises to help you swallow more easily.

Sometimes after surgery, the SLP works with doctors or dentists to find different ways to rebuild parts of your mouth that were removed during surgery. This is another way to help you speak and swallow more easily.

To find an SLP or audiologist near you, visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply ASHA endorsement of their contents.

• American Cancer Society
• American Dental Association
• National Cancer Institute
• NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Oral Cancers [PDF]
• The Oral Cancer Foundation