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What is mouth cancer?

  • Mouth cancer, also called oral cancer, can affect any part of the mouth, including the gums, tongue, inside the cheeks, or lips.
  • Anyone can get mouth cancer, but the risk increases with age. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 66 and 70.
  • How serious it is depends on the type of mouth cancer, how big it is, if it has spread, and your general health.

Page last reviewed: 19 June 2023
Next review due: 19 June 2026