Buccal mucosa cancer
Inner cheek lining
Highest worldwide—linked totobacco quid (gutka/khaini) held against cheek
Tongue cancer
Sides/back of tongue
Often missed until it bleeds or causes speech changes
Gum cancer
Upper/lower gums
Mimics gum disease—many delay care thinking it’s “just infection”
Floor of mouth
Under the tongue
Painful swelling mistaken for tooth abscess
Lip cancer
Lower lip (sun-exposed)
Common in farmers/fishermen with sun exposure + tobacco use
Note: The roof of mouth (palate) and gums are also vulnerable—especially where betel quid rests.
Why This Matters More in India: Our Unique Risks
While oral cancer affects everyone, certain threads weave through our communities:Tobacco in every form:
→ Smokeless tobacco (gutka, khaini, paan masala) causes 70% of Indian oral cancers—the chemicals sit against tissue for hours.
→ Smoking (beedis/cigarettes) heats tobacco, releasing carcinogens directly into the mouth.
Alcohol + Tobacco = 30x Higher Risk:
