Oral cancer is a term that refers to cancer of the mouth, lip, tongue and pharynx. The pharynx is the part of the throat at the back of the mouth - including the back of the tongue, the soft palate, tonsils and back of the throat. Salivary glands throughout the mouth make saliva, which moistens the mouth and helps digest food. Like other parts of the body, the pharynx and oral cavity are made up of many types of cells. Almost all oral cancers are cancer of the squamous cells.
Squamous cells line the oral cavity and pharynx.
Cells divide in an orderly, controlled way to produce more cells when more cells are needed in the body. When cells divide in an abnormal, uncontrolled way, they can form either a benign or malignant tumor. Benign tumors are not cancerous and usually are not a threat to life. They can usually be removed, and generally will not grow back. Benign tumor cells do not invade other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body.