According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2007 there will be approximately 34,360 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer in 2007. Approximately 7,550 people will die as a result of this cancer in 2007. Of the new cases, 24,180 will be in men and 10,180 will be in women. Men will account for 5,180 of the deaths and women will account for 2,370.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer is twice as common in men as women. This may be because me are more likely to use tobacco and alcohol. This difference is decreasing as more women are consuming tobacco and alcohol

Regular dental checkups that include an examination of the entire mouth are important in helping to find oral and oropharyngeal cancers (and precancers) early. Many doctors and dentists recommend that you look at your mouth in a mirror every month to check for any of the following symptoms:

• a sore in the mouth that does not heal (most common symptom)
• pain in the mouth that doesn't go away (also very common)
• a persistent lump or thickening in the cheek
• a persistent white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
• a sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that doesn't go away
• difficulty chewing or swallowing
• difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
• numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
• swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw
• voice changes
• a lump or mass in the neck
• weight loss
• persistent bad breath

The treatment options for people with oral and oropharyngeal cancers include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy either alone or in combination, depending on the stage of the tumor.

Doctors and scientists can't say for sure what causes each case of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. But we do know many of the risk factors and how some of them cause cells to become cancerous. We know that tobacco and alcohol can damage cells in the lining of the oral cavity and oropharynx, and that cells in this layer must grow more rapidly to repair this damage. Many of the chemicals found in tobacco cause damage to DNA, which contains the cell's instructions for repair and growth.

Scientists are not sure whether alcohol directly damages DNA, but they have shown that alcohol increases penetration of many DNA-damaging chemicals into cells. This is one reason that the combination of tobacco and alcohol causes far more damage to DNA than tobacco alone. This damage can cause certain areas of DNA (for example, those in charge of starting or stopping cell growth) to malfunction. Then abnormal cells can begin to accumulate, forming a tumor. With additional damage, the cells may begin to spread into nearby tissue and spread to distant organs.

About 90% of people with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer use tobacco, and the risk of developing these cancers increases with the amount smoked or chewed and duration of the habit.

Drinking alcohol strongly increases a smoker's risk of developing oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. About 75% to 80% of all patients with oral cancer drink a lot of alcohol. These cancers are about 6 times more common in drinkers than in nondrinkers. People who drink alcohol but don't smoke have a higher risk of cancer if they are particularly heavy drinkers. It is the combination of the two habits that is the most deadly.

Ultraviolet light: More than 30% of patients with cancers of the lip have outdoor occupations associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
                                                           
Poor nutrition: A diet low in fruits and vegetables is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

A great way to get involved in the fight against cancer is to participate in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Relay For Life is the main fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, and those funds support cancer research, education, patient programs and services and advocacy efforts that help reduce and eliminate cancer through targeted legislative efforts.