Choosing Radiation Therapy for Oral Cancer

Your dental professional may recommend radiation therapy for you in any of the following situations:

• You have cancer in the lip.¹

• You have cancer in the front of the tongue.¹

• You have a large tumor in the roof of your mouth, the floor of your mouth, or the lining of your cheeks.¹

• You have cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.¹

• You have cancer of the gums.¹

• You have cancer in the small area behind the wisdom teeth, called the retromolar trigone.¹

Radiation may be used alone or along with surgery to remove the cancer.¹ Before you have radiation, you will talk with a doctor who specializes in both cancer and radiation, called a radiation oncologist.¹ You’ll find out what type of radiation you need based on your type and stage of cancer.¹ During your visit, ask what you can expect to feel during and after the treatment.²

¹“Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment (PDQ®) Patient Version.” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. August 28, 2008. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/patient Accessed 2010.

²“What to Know About External Beam Radiation Therapy.”   National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. June 29, 2007. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wtk/ebrt Accessed 2010.