Information on Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
Cancer of the lip and oral cavity is a disease in which cancerous (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the lip or mouth. The oral cavity involves the facade two thirds of the tongue, the upper and lower gums (the gingiva), the lining of the inside of the cheeks and lips (the buccal mucosa), the bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue, the bony top of the mouth (the hard palate), and the small area behind the wisdom teeth (the retro molar trig one. Most lip and oral cavity cancers start in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells that line the lips and oral cavity. These are called squamous cell carcinomas.
Cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows. Squamous cell carcinoma usually grows in areas of leukoplakia. It is generally diagnosed in people who are over 45 years of age. Cancer of the lip is more frequent in men than in women, and is more probable to grow in people with light-colored skin who have been in the sun a lot. Cancer of the oral cavity is more common in people who chew tobacco or smoke pipes. They are caused by environmental factors that can trigger cell damage which then leads to the development of cancerous tumors which can spread throughout the oral cavity and to other areas.
