The Facts About Oral Cancer Oral cancer is the sixth most frequent cancer in the world.
Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, tongue, tonsils and pharynx.
Tongue cancer accounts for almost 30 percent of all oral cancers. In the United States there are approximately 30,000 new cases of oral cancer each year leading to 8,000 deaths. The impact of oral cancer on individuals, their families, the workplace and on society in general is staggering. Treatment for oral cancer causes pain and suffering, loss of speech, hearing, salivary and chewing functions and loss of time from work. Head and neck surgery as a treatment for oral cancer can be disfiguring, making social interaction and acceptance difficult for patients.