An estimated 53,000 people are diagnosed with mouth or throat cancers each year in the United States. These cancers can be found on your gums, lips, salivary glands, tongue, tonsils and other parts of your mouth and throat. Traditionally, these cancers are more likely to occur in men, typically over the age of 55, and have been primarily linked to tobacco and alcohol use. While the overall rate of mouth and throat cancer cases is declining, the rate of throat cancer cases diagnosed in younger adults and linked to HPV infection are on the rise.