FAQ's
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General
What is oral cancer?How many Americans are living with oral cancer?What causes oral cancer and who gets this disease?How does oral cancer affect people with this disease?Is there a cure for oral cancer?Why is more oral cancer research needed?How can I help people with oral cancer?
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: What is oral cancer?
A:
Oral cancer is a malignant tumor which occurs on the lips, tongue, gums, roof of the mouth, floor of the mouth, or in the throat.
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Q: How many Americans are living with oral cancer?
A:
More than 250,000 Americans are living with oral cancer. Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. There are more Americans living with oral cancer than with leukemia, brain tumors, melanoma skin cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
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Q: What causes oral cancer and who gets this disease?
A:
Oral cancer is often caused by exposure to tobacco smoke, but many people develop oral cancer whose cause is unknown. Oral cancer affects both men and women and Americans of all races and ages.
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Q: How does oral cancer affect people with this disease?
A:
Unlike other cancers, the number of Americans with oral cancer each year has been increasing for the past decade. Researchers do not know why oral cancer is increasing, particularly among young people.
One American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day. The number of Americans dying of oral cancer also is increasing each year. Only half of Americans with oral cancer will survive 5 years after their diagnosis.
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Q: Is there a cure for oral cancer?
A:
If oral cancer is detected early, the chances for cure are good. However, oral cancer treatment often involves disfiguring surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Extensive reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation is often needed. The goal of oral cancer research is to benefit all affected Americans by preventing and ultimately curing this dreaded disease.
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Q: Why is more oral cancer research needed?
A:
Oral cancer has historically lacked appropriate federal research support needed to make important new breakthroughs for oral cancer patients. The public health impact of oral cancer demands increased federal funding to improve outcomes and quality of life for Americans with oral cancer.
The federal government provides most of the funding for cancer research in the United
States through the National Institutes of Health. The level of federal support for oral cancer research is not adequate given the number of Americans suffering from this disease.
Oral cancer research deserves substantially increased federal support which cannot be achieved unless all stakeholders (patients, families, friends, and advocates) demand action from their elected representatives in Washington.
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Q: How can I help people with oral cancer?
A:
There are many ways to help, but one of the most important is to demand more funding for oral cancer research from your elected representatives in Congress. Please click on the "How to Help" link to find out how to support oral cancer research.
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