ABSTRACT
Tumours of the oral cavity are relatively uncommon 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 UK and almost all the EC countries over the last few decades. The tumour and the consequences of its treatment can profoundly impact on 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.
