Cancer of the jaw: 8 things to know
May 21, 2025
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by Mark Chambers, D.M.D., on May 21, 2025
Jaw cancer is a type of oral cancer that can develop in the jawbone or the soft tissue surrounding the jaw. Cancer from other areas of the head and neck can also spread to the jaw.
Cancer of the jaw is rare. But we treat many cases of jaw cancer at MD Anderson, so it’s not rare to us. Here, I’ll share more about jaw cancer, including symptoms, treatment and prognosis.
What are the types of jaw cancer?
Jaw cancer can be found in the upper jaw (maxilla) or the lower jaw (mandible). This includes various types of carcinomas, sarcomas and carcinosarcomas.
Most cancers of the jaw are squamous cell carcinomas. These arise from cells that line the mouth, tongue, gums, lips and throat. Some other types of jaw cancer include:
- Osteosarcoma of the jaw: This cancer forms in the actual bone tissue of the jaw.
- Odontogenic tumors: These tumors may be benign or malignant. Cancerous odontogenic tumors develop from the tissue that forms teeth.
- Ameloblastic carcinoma: This is a type of malignant odontogenic tumor that starts in the jawbone. It develops in epithelial cells that later become tooth enamel.
- Primary intraosseous carcinoma: This type of cancer begins in the jawbone.
- Ewing’s sarcoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that can also affect the jaw.
What causes cancer of the jaw?
The risk factors for jaw cancer are similar to those of other oral cancers. You have a higher chance of developing jaw cancer if you use tobacco or drink alcohol. Other things that can increase your risk include:
- Age: People over 55 are more likely to get jaw cancer.
- Genetics: Some people have inherited genetic mutations that increase their chances of developing certain types of jaw tumors.
- Poor nutrition: Eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables can increase your risk for jaw cancer.
- Poor oral hygiene: This could include irritation from dental prostheses that don’t fit properly.
- Chewing betel nut: This releases carcinogens that could lead to cancer. It is most common in Southeast Asia.
- HPV infection: Having human papillomavirus (HPV) increases your risk for developing oral cancers, which includes jaw cancer.
What are the symptoms of jaw cancer?
Jaw cancer symptoms can vary, depending on the type of tumor and where it’s located. Symptoms may include:
- Sores in the mouth that don’t heal
- Lumps or swelling in the jaw
- Pain while chewing
- Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing
- Trismus, or difficulty opening the mouth
- Difficulty closing the mouth
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Pain in the jaw
- Ear pain
- Persistent numbness in the jaw
- Dental prostheses that no longer fit
- Bleeding in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Increased saliva in the mouth
Do not ignore your symptoms. See a doctor if you have a sore in your mouth that doesn’t heal after a couple of weeks of rinsing with salt water, or if you develop a lump or bump in your mouth.
How is jaw cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam to check for any lumps, bumps or sores. They’ll also go over your medical history and ask about any symptoms you’re having.
Then you’ll get diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan, MRI or PET-CT scan. This way, your doctor will be able to see anything that looks suspicious in your body.
You’ll have a biopsy if your doctor notices any abnormalities. During a biopsy, your doctor takes a tissue sample from the area of concern and sends it to a lab to test for cancer. A biopsy can tell your doctor how fast the cancer is growing; this will help them select the best treatment.
Key Takeaways
- Jaw cancer can develop in the jawbone or the soft tissue surrounding the jaw; other head and neck cancers also can spread to the jaw.
- Using tobacco and drinking alcohol increase your chances of developing jaw cancer.
- Jaw cancer’s main symptoms include soreness and/or pain in your mouth and difficulty opening and/or closing your mouth.
- Treatment for jaw cancer depends on the cancer’s stage and location and the patient’s overall health. Surgery is the most common treatment, but radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy may also be used.
How is jaw cancer treated?
Treatment for jaw cancer depends on several factors, including where the tumor is located, the cancer’s stage and your overall health.
Jaw cancer is usually curable when it can be diagnosed and treated early. Most jaw cancer cases can be treated with surgery. Our goal is to remove the tumor and any affected tissue. Sometimes, a head and neck surgeon will need to remove part of the upper or lower jaw. In these cases, our plastic surgeons will help with reconstructive procedures to replace tissue with bone or tissue from other parts of the body or dental implants.
When jaw cancer spreads, it’s usually to the neck. We call that local metastasis. In these cases, a head and neck surgeon will perform a neck dissection to confirm that the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck. That helps us decide on the next steps for treatment.
Additional treatments after surgery may include radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to destroy any microscopic disease, prevent further spread and lower the chances of recurrence. If you’re not healthy enough for surgery, your doctors may recommend radiation or targeted therapy. Immunotherapy may also be an option, depending on the tumor’s characteristics.
Distant metastasis is when jaw cancer spreads from its original location to other parts of the body. At this point, the cancer becomes harder to treat.
What is the prognosis for people with jaw cancer?
Jaw cancer is generally curable when it can be removed by surgery. This is usually when the cancer is in the early stages, or when it is contained within the lining of the mouth and has not spread.
The five-year survival rate for people treated for early-stage jaw cancer is around 85%. Your chances of survival depend on several factors, including the specific type of cancer, stage at diagnosis and overall health. The longer you go without treatment, the more likely the cancer is to spread. The survival rate drops to about 60% for people treated with advanced-stage cancer or high-grade tumors.
Are all jaw tumors cancerous?
No, not all tumors in the jaw are cancerous. Some are benign, like odontogenic cysts and ameloblastomas.
Sometimes, benign jaw tumors can be aggressive. This means that even though they’re non-cancerous, they can grow and spread to other parts of the mouth. For example, an ameloblastoma commonly develops in the lower jaw. As it grows larger, it can fracture the jaw or move other structures around. It also may eventually turn into cancer. Even a non-cancerous tumor can have symptoms that are bothersome.
That’s why it’s important to see a doctor for any symptoms. They can remove the tumor and help preserve function in your mouth.
What else should patients and their families know about jaw cancer?
The goal of treatment is to get rid of the cancer and get you healthy again. But it doesn’t stop there. We want you to regain normal function of your mouth, like being able to chew and swallow.
At MD Anderson, our head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists work as a team to eliminate the cancer. Our oral oncologists, speech pathologists and audiologists work together to help with oral rehabilitation and function after surgery. Our pain management specialists can help with pain related to treatment. Some patients may also have physical therapy or occupational therapy.
It can take months to fully heal from jaw cancer, but we’re here to support you. We want to cure the cancer and get you back to where you were before cancer – if not better.
Mark Chambers, D.M.D., is an oral oncologist and chief of the Oral Oncology section at MD Anderson.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call +1 346 503-2729.
Jaw cancer is usually curable when it can be diagnosed and treated early.
Mark Chambers, D.M.D.
Oral Oncologist