This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet is about oral cancer.* Oral cancer can develop in any part of the oral cavity (the mouth and lips) or the oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth).

Each year in the United States, more than 21,000 men and 9,000 women are diagnosed with oral cancer. Most are over 60 years old.

Learning about medical care for oral cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care. This booklet tells about:

• Treatment
• Nutrition
• Reconstruction and rehabilitation
• Taking part in research studies

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you can take notes. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor--to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.

For the latest information about oral cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/oral. Or, call the NCI Cancer Information Service. We can answer your questions about cancer. We can also send you NCI booklets and fact sheets. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) or instant message us through the LiveHelp service at http://www.cancer.gov/help.

*Words in italics are in the Dictionary. The Dictionary explains these terms. It also shows how to pronounce them.

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