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Oral Cancer Treatment: Types and Goals

There are several ways to treat oral cancer. Your team of doctors can help you determine the goals of your treatment and the best way to achieve those goals.1

Surgery

Surgery is commonly used at all stages of oral cancer. The goal is to take out the tumor. If the cancer has spread beyond the mouth and throat, the surgeon may also need to remove lymph nodes and any other affected tissue.1

Radiation Treatment

There are two ways to use high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells:1

  • External radiation uses a machine to send radiation through the patient’s skin to the tumor.

  • Internal radiation involves implanting a radioactive substance into or near the cancer via a wire, catheter, or other route.

Chemotherapy

Using drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing is known as chemotherapy. These drugs can be taken by mouth, or they can be injected.

Adjuvant Treatment

Your doctor may suggest that you get more than one type of treatment to beat oral cancer. For instance, after surgery, you may have radiation or chemotherapy to kill traces of cancer that were not completely removed.1 This type of follow-up approach is called adjuvant treatment.1

1 “Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment. Patient Version.” National Cancer Institute, August 27, 2008. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/patient Accessed 2008.

 

Online Medical Reviewer: Carr, Ellen RN, MSN, AOCN
Online Medical Reviewer: Wirth, Lori MD
Date Last Reviewed: 10/14/2008
Date Last Modified: 10/14/2008
The views represented by this article are that of the author and not of Delta Dental. This article is provided for information only. Please consult with a licensed dentist to discuss the best way for you to improve or maintain your oral health.

In all cases, specific group contract provisions, benefits, limitations and exclusions take precedence over oral health recommendations given here. We recommend that you contact your dental benefits carrier to determine the specific limitations and exclusions for your group.