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Chemotherapy for Oral Cancer

The standard treatments for oral cancer are surgery and radiation therapy. But chemotherapy is increasingly being used as well.1 Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs that are given in a vein or taken by mouth. The drugs enter the bloodstream, which carries them around the body. This lets them reach not only cancer in the head and neck area, but also any that has spread to other sites.2

Your doctor might suggest chemotherapy to treat oral cancer in several situations:

  • You are having radiation for larger cancers confined to the head and neck. In recent studies, combining radiation and chemotherapy worked better than radiation alone. It helped people live longer. And there was less chance of the cancer coming back.2

  • You are planning to have surgery or radiation later, and your doctor wants to shrink the tumor first. Getting chemotherapy beforehand may make the cancer easier to treat.2,3

  • You have had surgery already, but the cancer was too large to be removed completely. Chemotherapy, often combined with radiation, may help relieve some symptoms.2

  • Your cancer has spread to another part of the body. Chemotherapy hasn’t been shown to improve survival in this situation, but it may reduce symptoms and help you feel better.4

1 “Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Treatment Option Overview.” National Cancer Institute, August 27, 2008. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/Patient/page4 Accessed 2008.

2 “Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Chemotherapy.” American Cancer Society, September 28, 2007. www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Chemotherapy_60.asp?sitearea= Accessed 2008.

3 “Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ): Stage III Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer.” National Cancer Institute, May 22, 2008. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/HealthProfessional/page8 Accessed 2008.

4 “Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Treatment Options by Stage.” American Cancer Society, September 28, 2007. www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_Options_by_Stage_60.asp?sitearea= Accessed 2008.

Online Medical Reviewer: Carr, Ellen RN, MSN, AOCN
Online Medical Reviewer: Wirth, Lori MD
Date Last Reviewed: 10/11/2008
Date Last Modified: 10/11/2008
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.