Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Lip cancer is anoral cancerthat starts when theDNAinside a cell on the lip becomes abnormal. The abnormal DNA then causes the cells to grow and divide abnormally, resulting in a tumor, or group of abnormal cells.
The lips are lined with cells called squamous cells, which are the outermost layers of the lip. Cancer of the lip is most likely to develop in these types of cells and is calledsquamous cell carcinoma.
Lip cancer may also be atype of cancercalledbasal cell carcinoma, or it may bemelanoma, which is cancer that develops in the melanocytes, the cells that give skin its pigment.
iStockPhoto / Getty Images
Lip Cancer Symptoms
The most commonsymptomof lip cancer is a sore on the lip that is not healing. This occurs most frequently on the bottom lip. This may look like an ulcer or a rough patch that is not getting better.
Other symptoms that may be found on the lips include:
Symptoms of Lip Cancer
Causes of Lip Cancer
Although lip cancer may have a known specific cause, there are certain factors thatincrease the riskof developing lip cancer. These risks include:
Malignant salivary gland tumors can also occur on the lip, although they are less common.
Diagnosing Lip Cancer
Ultimately, a biopsy is what is needed to diagnose lip cancer. During a biopsy, a piece of tissue from the suspicious area is taken off and sent to a laboratory, where it is analyzed for the presence of any abnormal cells.
Does Lip Cancer Spread to Other Areas?It is very unlikely that cancer of the lip will spread to other areas, with one study showing less than 10% of lip cancers spreading to other areas of the body.
Does Lip Cancer Spread to Other Areas?
It is very unlikely that cancer of the lip will spread to other areas, with one study showing less than 10% of lip cancers spreading to other areas of the body.
If a medical provider is suspicious that cancer has spread, they will order imaging studies such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further evaluation.
Once a biopsy and all imaging studies are complete, lip cancer is given a stage.
Stage I
This is an early stage of cancer, and the tumor on the lip is less than 2 centimeters in size and has not spread into local lymph nodes.
Stage II
Still an early-stage lip cancer, the tumor is between 2 and 4 centimeters in size and has not spread into local lymph nodes.
Stage III
A more advanced stage of cancer, the tumor is more than 4 centimeters in size or is any size and has spread into lymph nodes in the neck.
Stage IV
Treatment of Lip Cancer
Multipletreatmentsfor lip cancer are available, and treatment decisions are based on the type of cancer and the stage at which it is diagnosed. Treatments may include:
Surgery
The main form of treatment for lip cancer is surgical removal.
During the surgery, the lip cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it are removed. Sometimes lymph nodes in the neck are removed as well to check for cancer involvement.
Reconstruction Surgery Possibly Needed
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapymay also be required to treat lip cancer.
Side effects from chemotherapy vary depending on the specific chemotherapy medication being given.
What to Expect With Chemotherapy
Radiation
Duringradiation, beams of X-rays are used to kill cancer cells.
For those with an early stage of lip cancer, radiation may be the only treatment required, with the goal of curing the lip cancer.
In later stages, radiation may be given in combination with chemotherapy or given alone to treat a painful symptom the cancer is causing. Side effects of radiation may include:
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapyis not used for early-stage lip cancer, but in advanced stages where cancer has spread to locations outside of the lip.
Working differently than chemotherapy, immunotherapy helps a person’s immune system recognize and attack cancer. Typically immunotherapy is well tolerated but comes with the risk of autoimmune reactions. In an autoimmune reaction, the immune system attacks healthy cells, causing inflammation and side effects.
Lip Cancer Prognosis
Often, cancer of the lip is found at an early stage, as it can be slow-growing and is in an area that is easily visible. When found at an early stage, cure rates are high, at over 90%.
The risk of recurrence of lip cancer is estimated at between 5% and 35%. If cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced stage, cure rates decrease to less than 50%.
Coping With Lip Cancer
Sometimes coping with lip cancer can be difficult. Depending upon the location and the treatment required, there may be a visible scar or a change in the ability to eat or swallow.
Being well informed about any treatment and potential side effects from treatment is one way to cope with the diagnosis. Having a good support system of people you can talk to is important as well. These may be family members, friends, or others who have the same diagnosis.
The Importance of Quitting Smoking
A Word From Verywell
Treatments for lip cancer can vary for each person, so be sure to ask your oncologist any questions you may have.
Be sure to find a good support system for yourself after being diagnosed with lip cancer, as a good support system or resources can help lift your spirits and get you through treatment.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Lip and oral cavity cancer treatment (adult).Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lip cancer.Agostini T, Spinelli G, Arcuri F, Perello R.Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: analysis of the 5-year survival rate.Arch Craniofac Surg. 2017;18(2):105-111. doi:10.7181/acfs.2017.18.2.105Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Mouth cancer stages.Han AY, Kuan EC, Mallen-St Clair J, Alonso JE, Arshi A, St John MA.Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in the united states: a population-based cohort analysis.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(12):1216. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.3455Oral Cancer Foundation.Chemotherapy.MedlinePlus.Radiation therapy.American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.Cancer Research UK.Coping.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Lip and oral cavity cancer treatment (adult).Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lip cancer.Agostini T, Spinelli G, Arcuri F, Perello R.Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: analysis of the 5-year survival rate.Arch Craniofac Surg. 2017;18(2):105-111. doi:10.7181/acfs.2017.18.2.105Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Mouth cancer stages.Han AY, Kuan EC, Mallen-St Clair J, Alonso JE, Arshi A, St John MA.Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in the united states: a population-based cohort analysis.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(12):1216. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.3455Oral Cancer Foundation.Chemotherapy.MedlinePlus.Radiation therapy.American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.Cancer Research UK.Coping.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Lip and oral cavity cancer treatment (adult).Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lip cancer.Agostini T, Spinelli G, Arcuri F, Perello R.Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: analysis of the 5-year survival rate.Arch Craniofac Surg. 2017;18(2):105-111. doi:10.7181/acfs.2017.18.2.105Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Mouth cancer stages.Han AY, Kuan EC, Mallen-St Clair J, Alonso JE, Arshi A, St John MA.Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in the united states: a population-based cohort analysis.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(12):1216. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.3455Oral Cancer Foundation.Chemotherapy.MedlinePlus.Radiation therapy.American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.Cancer Research UK.Coping.
National Cancer Institute.Lip and oral cavity cancer treatment (adult).
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Lip cancer.
Agostini T, Spinelli G, Arcuri F, Perello R.Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: analysis of the 5-year survival rate.Arch Craniofac Surg. 2017;18(2):105-111. doi:10.7181/acfs.2017.18.2.105
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Mouth cancer stages.
Han AY, Kuan EC, Mallen-St Clair J, Alonso JE, Arshi A, St John MA.Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in the united states: a population-based cohort analysis.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(12):1216. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.3455
Oral Cancer Foundation.Chemotherapy.
MedlinePlus.Radiation therapy.
American Cancer Society.Immunotherapy for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.
Cancer Research UK.Coping.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
