ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Lip Cancer · Understanding the disease

What is lip cancer?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Lip Cancer Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

Lip cancer is usually a squamous cell carcinoma of the dry red part of the lower lip, caused mainly by cumulative ultraviolet radiation. It is unusually common in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and parts of Southern/Eastern Europe among fair-skinned outdoor workers. Small tumours are highly curable with limited surgery that preserves lip function.

In detail

Lip cancer is grouped statistically with oral cavity cancer (C00–C06), but its causes and behaviour are different from intraoral cancer: chronic sun exposure rather than tobacco or areca nut is the main driver. The precursor lesion is actinic cheilitis — persistent dryness, scaling and fissuring of the lower lip — which is why the lower lip, receiving more direct sunlight, is affected far more often than the upper lip.

Because the lesion is visible, lip cancer can be found early. A sore, crust or thickened patch on the lip that does not heal within a few weeks should be biopsied. Treatment is usually surgical excision with reconstruction of the lip, with neck dissection or radiotherapy reserved for larger or node-positive tumours.

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Understanding the disease” section of the Lip Cancer topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about lip cancer

See all 14 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. Global incidence of lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal cancers by subsite in 2022 CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · 2026 · Subsite-level estimates for 185 countries; the basis of the regional atlas on this site.
  2. Trends of lip, oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in Australia 1982–2008 BMC Cancer · 2013 · Lip cancer was the dominant oral-region subsite in Australia; strongly UV-related.
  3. Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2022) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2022 · Source of worldwide and country-level incidence and mortality estimates.
  4. Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer (fact sheet) World Health Organization · 2024

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.