ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Tumors of the oral cavity are relatively less common compared to other head and neck sites such as the larynx, but the incidence and mortality rates for oral cancer, especially in younger men, have shown an increase in the U.K. and almost all the Eurpean community (EC) countries over the last few decades. The tumor and the consequences of its treatment can profoundly affect one or more of the several important functions that the oral cavity normally serves. Alteration of functions such as mastication, speech, taste, swallowing, oral sensation and continence, and of body image can have a devastating impact on quality of life. Apart from the obvious goal of disease-free survival, these factors must be considered in treatment planning.
