Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Oral cancer is cancer that arises in
the head or neck region, including the nasal cavity, sinuses,
lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat or larynx
(voice box). According to the American Cancer Society, it is the
sixth most common form of cancer in the United States, with
35,300 cases diagnosed in 2008 alone. Signs and Symptoms Most
oral cancers arise on the lips, tongue or the floor of the
mouth. They also may occur inside your cheeks, on your gums or
on the roof of your mouth. Some Signs and Symptoms Include: - A
sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or that increases in size -
Persistent pain in your mouth - Lumps or white, red or dark
patches inside your mouth - Thickening of your cheek -
Difficulty chewing or swallowing or moving your tongue -
Difficulty moving your jaw, or swelling or pain in your jaw -
Soreness in your throat or feeling that something is caught in
your throat - Pain around your teeth, or loosening of your teeth
- Numbness of your tongue or elsewh