Prevention

Researchers are studying how people can make changes in their lifestyles to reduce their risk for cancer. One lifestyle change that may reduce the risk for oral cancer is eating fruits and fiber-rich vegetables.

Take the following steps to prevent oral cancer:

• Don't use tobacco in any form.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation.
• Use sun protection on your lips, such as a lip balm that has sunscreen or a colored lipstick.
• Get dental checkups twice a year so that signs of oral cancer can be detected early.

Some combinations, such as using tobacco and drinking alcohol, increase the risk more than using tobacco or drinking alcohol. The same is true for using marijuana if you have high-risk HPV infection.

What To Think About

Treatment for oral cancer is usually provided by a team of doctors who are experts in treating head and neck cancers. The team may include a medical oncologist, a head and neck surgeon, an oral (maxillofacial) surgeon, or a radiation oncologist. Depending on your treatment, you may have help from other specialists, such as a speech therapist or a plastic surgeon.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials for oral cancer look at new ways to treat oral cancer. Treatments being studied include:

• Chemotherapy.
• Hyperfractionated radiation therapy, which is giving the total dose of radiation therapy in many small treatments, often more than one a day.
• Hyperthermia therapy, where body tissue is heated above normal temperatures. This kills cancer cells or makes them more sensitive to radiation or medicines.

Sometimes a clinical trial offers the best treatment choice. Your medical team will let you know if there is a clinical trial that might be good for you. For more information, see www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials or http://clinicaltrials.gov.