Written with men in mind. Most of this guide applies to everyone. Details specific to women — such as screening ages and risks that differ — are not covered yet; female health guides are being written.
What it is
These cancers start in the mouth or the oropharynx — the middle part of the throat, including the back of the tongue, the tonsils and the soft palate.[1]
Risk factors include heavy tobacco and alcohol use and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), especially type 16.[1] HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers have a better outlook than HPV-negative ones.[1]
Work-up includes examination, endoscopy or laryngoscopy with biopsy, PET-CT and MRI, and HPV testing of the tumour. Treatment by a multidisciplinary team may include transoral robotic surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, cetuximab and immune checkpoint inhibitors.[1]
See the tongue, tonsils, soft palate and the oropharynx in 3D.
See it in 3DHow common it is
Rates have risen since the mid-2000s, mainly from cancers linked to HPV.[2]
Causes and risk factors
Things you can't change
- A personal history of head and neck cancer.[1]
Things you can change
Symptoms worth reporting to a doctor
- A sore throat that doesn't go away
- Trouble swallowing or opening the mouth
- Ear pain
- A lump in the mouth, throat or neck
- A white patch in the mouth that won't go away
- Weight loss without trying, or coughing up blood
Early cancers often cause no signs, and these symptoms have other causes — see a doctor or dentist if they last.[1]
How it's diagnosed
Stages in general terms
In general terms:[3]
- Localised: still where it started.
- Regional: spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.
- Distant: spread to other parts of the body.
An illustration, not a stage. Human Atlas never assigns a stage. Only your own tests and your care team can do that.
Types of treatment
- Surgery. Including transoral robotic surgery.[1]
- Radiation and chemotherapy. Often combined.[1]
- Targeted therapy and immunotherapy. For some cancers.[1]
Which option fits depends on the details of each person’s situation. Your care team decides with you.
What you can do
Questions to ask your doctor
- Is my cancer HPV-positive, and what does that mean for me?
- Which treatments affect swallowing or speech, and how is that managed?
- Who is on my care team?
Myth vs. fact
Guided lesson
Plus Chapter 1 is free for everyone.
Follow this topic step by step on the 3D body.
Start chapter 1 freeRelated topics
Lung cancer
By far the leading cause of cancer death in the US. Smoking causes most of it — and a yearly low-dose CT scan can find it early in people at high risk.
Understanding cancer: the basics
What cancer is, how screening differs from diagnosis, what 'stage' means, and the main types of treatment — in plain English.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute. Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (Adult) (PDQ®) – Patient Version. Checked 23 October 2026.
- American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers (2026 estimates). Checked 23 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Staging. Checked 23 October 2026.
- National Cancer Institute. HPV and Cancer. Checked 23 October 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Immunization Schedule by Age (check the live page: the schedule has been amended more than once in 2025–26). Checked 23 October 2026.
The owner of this website is not a doctor. Human Atlas provides educational anatomy information and does not diagnose, stage, or treat disease. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything concerning your own health.