Oral cancers develop in 30,000 Americans and cause 8,000 deaths each year, mostly in people over age 40. This represents about 2.5 per cent of cancer cases and 1.5 per cent of all cancer-related deaths. Clearly this is a high rate considering the small size of the mouth in relation to the rest of the body. Along with cancers of the lung and skin, cancers of the mouth are more preventable than most other cancers. Non-cancerous and cancerous growths can originate in any type of tissue in and around the mouth, including bone, muscle, and nerve. Rarely, cancers found in the mouth region have spread there from other parts of the body – most commonly the lung, breast and prostate. Screening for oral cancer should be an integral part of medical and dental examinations because early detection is critical. Cancers less than a half inch across can usually be cured easily. Unfortunately, most oral cancers aren’t diagnosed until they’ve spread to the lymph nodes of the jaw and neck. Because of delayed detection, 25 per cent of oral cancers are fatal.