Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer : Treatment Options by Stage, Part 2

By National Cancer Institute

Lower gingiva

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

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

Retromolar trigone

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

Surgery to remove the tumor, lymph nodes, and part of the jawbone, with or without 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.

Upper gingiva

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

Radiation therapy.
Surgery (wide local excision) and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Hard palate

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

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

Lymph nodes

For cancer that may have spread to lymph nodes, treatment may include the following:

Radiation therapy and/or surgery (neck dissection).
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Stage IV Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Treatment of stage IV 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 and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
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:

Surgery to remove the tongue and sometimes the larynx (voice box) with or without radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
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) and/or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
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 before or after radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Lower gingiva

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

Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Retromolar trigone

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

Surgery to remove the tumor, lymph nodes, and part of the jawbone, followed by radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Upper gingiva or hard palate

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

Surgery with radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Lymph nodes

For cancer that may have spread to lymph nodes, treatment may include the following:

Radiation therapy and/or surgery (neck dissection).
A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before or after surgery.
A clinical trial of hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Treatment Options for Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Treatment of recurrent lip and oral cavity cancer may include the following:

Surgery, if radiation therapy was used before.
Surgery and/or radiation therapy, if surgery was used before.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of hyperthermia therapy.

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Tags: Head and Neck Cancer

About the Author

The National Cancer Institute's research programs are extensive and contain many innovative initiatives. I invite you to explore our Web site to find out more about the exciting work being conducted here at NCI and by NCI-supported scientists throughout the country. More

Author website: www.nci.nih.gov

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