We are broadly examining the idea of treating living tissues as dynamical systems, with the particular aim of understanding cancer in the mouth. This is part of a statewide collaboration to develop methods for early cancer detection. Our goal is to adapt methods and ideas from the study of other pattern forming systems to the recognition of changes in epithelial cell populations. We are trying several approaches. One is Fourier analysis of microscope images of thin sections. Another is the observation of light propagation along the epithelial layer. Interestingly, this latter problem has found an application for some of our recent work (with Masoud Asadi-Zeydabadi) on the Hamiltonian dynamics of optical ray tracing in spatially modulated optical media. The last part of the talk will be a speculative exploration of the broader questions of how to treat tissues as dynamical systems. Audience participation will be essential.