Treatment of Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Learn about the treatments listed below in the Treatment Option Overview.

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 surgery and external radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy.

Front of the tongue

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

• external radiation therapy with or without internal radiation therapy
• surgery (wide local excision) followed by radiation therapy

Buccal mucosa

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

• surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy
• radiation therapy

Floor of the mouth

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

• 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

Lower gingiva

If cancer is in the lower gingiva (gums), treatment may include surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy. Radiation may be given before or after surgery.

Retromolar trigone

If cancer is in the retromolar trigone (the small area behind the wisdom teeth), treatment may include surgery to remove the tumor, lymph nodes, and part of the jawbone, with or without radiation therapy.

Upper gingiva

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

• radiation therapy
• surgery (wide local excision) and radiation therapy

Hard palate

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

• radiation therapy
• surgery (wide local excision) with or without radiation therapy

Lymph nodes

For cancer that may have spread to lymph nodes, treatment may include radiation therapy and/or surgery (neck dissection).

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.