What are Lip and Oral Cavity Cancers?

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 includes the:

•upper and lower gums (the gingiva)
•front two-thirds of the tongue

•bottom (floor) of the mouth under the tongue

•lining of the inside of the cheeks and lips (the buccal mucosa)
•bony top of the mouth (the hard palate)
•small area behind the wisdom teeth (the retromolar trigone)
The tissues of the lip and oral cavity contain several types of cells, and cancer can develop in each of these types. However, most cancers of the lip and oral cavity are squamous cell cancers.