What are cancers of the lip, mouth and oropharynx?
This section covers cancers on the lips and inside the mouth – the oral cavity. The mouth includes many structures: • Lips • Tongue • Gums or gingiva • Inner lining of the lips and cheeks called the buccal mucosa • Area of the mouth under the tongue – floor of the mouth • Roof of the mouth – the hard palate • The area of the mouth behind the wisdom teeth – retromolar trigone • Oropharynx – this is the first part of the throat at the back of the mouth, it is made up of: • The back of the tongue • The tonsils • The back wall of the throat • The soft palate which is a continuation of the hard palate. Any of these areas may be affected by mouth cancer. Refer to the labelled diagram below.
