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Did You Know? Video Series from the National Cancer Institute:
Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer
Did you know that men are twice as likely as women to be
diagnosed with oral cavity and pharynx cancer?
Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx is cancer that forms in
the mouth or throat.
Oral cavity cancers can occur in: the lips, gums,
front part of the tongue, salivary glands, and inner
lining of the cheeks, the roof and bottom of the mouth and
the area behind the wisdom teeth.
Cancers in the pharynx, or throat, can occur in:
the nasopharynx, or the part of the throat behind the nose,
the oropharynx, which includes the tonsils,
the base of the tongue, the back of the roof of the mouth and
the side and back walls of the throat, and the hypopharynx, or
bottom of the throat.
Oral cavity and pharynx cancers are more likely to develop in
the tongue, oropharynx, tonsils, gums and salivary glands.
Because smoking rates have decreased, new diagnoses of
smoking-related oral cavity and pharynx cancers have dropped.
However, cancers associated with human papillomavirus,
or HPV, are on the rise.
Approximately 70 percent of cancers in the oropharynx are
caused by HPV infection.
Human papillomaviruses are a group of
over 200 related viruses.
More than 40 HPV types can be easily spread by
vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Persistent HPV infection causes cellular changes that can lead
to different types of cancer.
White men have the highest rates of new cases for oral cavity and
pharynx cancer, followed by black men and
American Indian and Alaska Natives.
These groups also experience major
differences in survival rates.
The five-year relative survival rates are about
68 percent for white men, but only 45 percent for black men.
This means that five years after diagnosis with oral cavity and
pharynx cancer, 68 out of every 100 white men will still be
alive, but only 45 out of every 100 black men
will survive that long.
Some of the gap in survival rates is because
black men are often diagnosed at a later stage,
when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
One way to improve survival is through early detection.
Some of the signs of oral cavity and pharynx cancers include:
a sore throat that does not go away; a lump in the nose,
neck, throat, mouth, gums, or lips; trouble breathing,
speaking, chewing, swallowing, opening the mouth fully, or
moving the tongue or jaw; ear pain; or a change in voice.
If you experience any of these symptoms,
talk with your doctor.
It is important to be diagnosed and treated early to improve
your chances of survival.
Take steps that may reduce your risk of
oral cavity and pharynx cancer.
Eat well.
Be active.
Don’t smoke or use tobacco.
Avoid alcohol.
Get vaccinated against HPV.
If you have been diagnosed with oral cavity and pharynx cancer,
visit cancer.gov/clinicaltrials
to learn about clinical trial treatment options.
Speak with your doctor to make a decision that is right for you.
For more information on oral cavity and pharynx cancers and
HPV, go to cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
For more cancer statistics, go to seer.cancer.gov
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