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Treatment of Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.
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.
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.
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.
Learn more:
- General Information About Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Stages of Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment Option Overview
- Treatment of Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage II Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage IV Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- To Learn More About Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
Related Articles
- General Information About Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Stages of Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment Option Overview
- Treatment of Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage II Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Stage IV Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- Treatment of Recurrent Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer
- To Learn More About Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer