The oral cavity includes the: Retromolar trigone (the area behind the wisdom teeth) Hard palate (the roof of the mouth) Floor of the mouth (the space underneath the tongue) Buccal mucosa (the inner lining of the cheeks and lips) Front section of the tongue Gums, lips and teeth Red part of the lip Additional symptoms of lip and oral cavity cancer may include: Lump or thickening on the lips, gums, mouth and/or neck A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils or lining of the mouth Bleeding from the lip, mouth, chin or cheek Pain or numbness in the lip, mouth, chin or cheek Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit well Trouble chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue or jaw Sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat Swelling of the jaw or neck Change in voice Weight loss Stages of lip and oral cavity cancer The staging system most often used for oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers is the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system, which is based on three key pieces of information: The extent of the tumour (T): How large is the main (primary) tumour and which, if any, tissues of the oral cavity or oropharynx have been affected
To learn more about RWJ Barnabas Healths Nicotine and Tobacco Recovery Program or to get started, visit For more information, watch RWJ Barnabas Healths short video on quitting smoking: Know that it is never too lateor too soonto quit smoking and tobacco use
There are no sta tistics to prove it, nor are there any statistics on the smoking habits of Winston-Salem residents
Contact your local health clinic for further advice on how to change your smoking habit
