Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer : Treatment Options by Stage

by National Cancer Institute

(Page 3 of 4)

Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Treatment of stage I lip and oral cavity cancer depends on where cancer is found in the lip and oral cavity.

Lip

If cancer is in the lip, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision).
• Internal radiation therapy with or without external radiation therapy.

Front of the tongue

If cancer is in the front of the tongue, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision).
• Internal radiation therapy with or without external radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy to lymph nodes in the neck.

Buccal mucosa

If cancer is in the buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheeks), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision) for tumors smaller than 1 centimeter, with or without internal and/or external radiation therapy.
• Surgery (wide local excision with skin graft) or radiation therapy for larger tumors.

Floor of the mouth

If cancer is in the floor (bottom) of the mouth, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision) for tumors smaller than ½ centimeter.
• Surgery (wide local excision) or radiation therapy for larger tumors.

Lower gingiva

If cancer is in the lower gingiva (gums), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone, and skin graft).
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.

Retromolar trigone

If cancer is in the retromolar trigone (the small area behind the wisdom teeth), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone.)
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.

Upper gingiva or hard palate

If cancer is in the upper gingiva (gums) or the hard palate (the roof of the mouth), treatment is usually surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy.

Stage II Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Treatment of stage II lip and oral cavity cancer depends on where cancer is found in the lip and oral cavity.

Lip

If cancer is in the lip, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision).
• External radiation therapy and/or internal radiation therapy.

Front of the tongue

If cancer is in the front of the tongue, treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy and/or surgery (wide local excision).
• Internal radiation therapy with surgery (neck dissection).

Buccal mucosa

If cancer is in the buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheeks), treatment may include the following:

• Radiation therapy for tumors that are 3 centimeters or smaller.
• Surgery (wide local excision) and/or radiation therapy for larger tumors.

Floor of the mouth

If cancer is in the floor (bottom) of the mouth, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision).
• Radiation therapy.
• Surgery (wide local excision) followed by external radiation therapy, with or without internal radiation therapy, for large tumors.

Lower gingiva

If cancer is in the lower gingiva (gums), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone, and a skin graft).
• Radiation therapy alone or after surgery.

Retromolar trigone

If cancer is in the retromolar trigone (the small area behind the wisdom teeth), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision, which includes removing part of the jawbone).
• Radiation therapy with or without surgery.

Upper gingiva or hard palate

If cancer is in the upper gingiva (gums) or the hard palate (the roof of the mouth), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy alone.

Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Treatment of stage III lip and oral cavity cancer depends on where cancer is found in the lip and oral cavity.

Lip

If cancer is in the lip, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery and external radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Front of the tongue

If cancer is in the front of the tongue, treatment may include the following:

• External radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy.
• Surgery (wide local excision) followed by radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Buccal mucosa

If cancer is in the buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheeks), treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Floor of the mouth

If cancer is in the floor (bottom) of the mouth, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone, with or without neck dissection).
• External radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

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