Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment for people with mouth cancer. The type of surgery depends on the location, size, and stage of mouth cancer.
MSK's Guide To
Mouth (Oral) Cancer Treatment
Overview
We know you want excellent treatment results. But not everyone’s goals or priorities are the same. We listen to what matters most to you. Our experts work with you on a care plan that’s best for you.
There are many options for oral cancer treatment. You may feel overwhelmed as you explore them.
This guide will help you better understand your treatment options and get ready to talk with your doctors. You’ll have the information you need to make the best decisions for your care together.
Your care team includes doctors, nurses, and other experts in mouth cancer. MSK’s mouth cancer experts will make a treatment plan just for you.
Your mouth cancer treatment will target the type and stage of mouth cancer you have. It will be based on the latest research and therapies. During your treatment, you may have more than one therapy for the best possible results.
Request an appointment
Talk with an MSK Care Advisor. We're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How is mouth cancer treated?
Your MSK care team will talk with you about the best therapies for you. You may have one treatment, or a few treatments together.
Treatment options for mouth cancer can include:
- Surgery.
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Targeted therapies.
- Immunotherapy.
Our doctors will choose treatments for mouth (oral cancer), including cancer that starts in the:
- Inner cheek, also called buccal mucosa cancer.
- Floor of the mouth (under your tongue).
- Gums.
- Hard palate, which is the bony part of the roof of your mouth.
- Lip.
- Tongue.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Some people have radiation therapy after surgery for mouth cancer.
Systemic therapies
Chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy are called systemic therapies. Treatments are given by mouth, intravenous (IV) infusion, or injection (shot). They spread throughout the body to treat cancer.
How does MSK care for people with mouth cancer?
We care for every person with kindness, warmth, and respect.
Your care team includes doctors, nurses, and other experts who focus on mouth cancer. Together they use the latest science and research to create your care plan. It will focus on what matters most to you, and the treatment that’s best for your type of cancer.
To learn which genes are helping a tumor grow, we may do genetic testing on the tumor. This genetic information lets us target your treatment to the type of oral cancer you have.
At MSK, we take care of the person, not just the cancer. We offer support and resources to help you and your caregivers, during and after treatment.
Your care plan may include nutrition advice, physical therapy, exercise, and mental health support. Our rehabilitation experts help you manage the side effects of oral cancer and its treatments.
An MSK speech pathologist helps a patient use a tool to help recover from head and neck cancer treatment.
You’ll get the best possible cancer care at MSK. Your care team has experts in treating the type of mouth cancer you have. We offer:
- The latest oral cancer treatments. Our surgeons are experts in oral cancer surgery. We focus on removing the tumor and keeping your ability to eat, swallow, and speak.
- Precise radiation therapy for oral cancer. Our methods can help give better results and reduce side effects.
- Early access to new drug treatments through our research studies, known as clinical trials.
- Speech and swallowing therapy. Our experts help you manage changes in how you swallow and speak.
- Dental cancer care. We have experts in dental procedures and in making prosthetics (replacement parts) to repair teeth, the jawbone, or tongue.
- Follow-up care after treatment ends. We make sure you’re healing well and managing any side effects.
THE MSK DIFFERENCE
Many people prefer to get cancer treatment closer to home. MSK provides excellent cancer care on Long Island and in locations in Westchester County, New Jersey, and New York City. You can meet with your surgeon and have chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and genetic testing.
Types of mouth cancer treatment
At MSK, all members of your care team will review your case. They’ll talk with you about which treatments are best for you.
Your care team may offer you a few mouth cancer treatment options. They’re based on your symptoms, any other health issues, and the mouth cancer’s:
- Type.
- Stage, including if it has spread.
- Location.
- Genetic information.
We assess all these things and then find the best treatment choice for you.
For many people with mouth cancer, surgery is the best option. Your surgeon will talk with you about your options and help you to get ready. They’ll explain what kind of surgery may be best for you.
Surgery may not be right for you because of your general health or the cancer’s location. Instead, we may recommend radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy. You may have 1 of these treatments, or a few treatments together.
At MSK, our nurses have achieved one of the county’s highest honors for nursing excellence.
Types of mouth cancer surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for mouth cancer.
If you or someone you care about has mouth cancer, we want to help you understand options for surgery. This information can help you get ready for the decisions you and your doctors will make together.
There are different types of surgery to treat mouth cancer. Your surgeon will talk with you about your options and help you to prepare.
These are common surgeries to treat mouth cancer:
- A glossectomy (glah-SEK-toh-mee) removes tumors on the tongue. You may need part, half, or all of the tongue removed.
- A mandibulectomy (MAN-dih-bul-EK-toh-mee) is surgery to remove all or part of your mandible (jaw). This surgery is also called a mandibular resection. It's the most common treatment for mouth cancers that start in the lower gums or the floor of the mouth.
- A maxillectomy (MAK-sihl-EK-toh-mee) is surgery to remove tumors in the upper gum and hard palate. This procedure removes bones that make up the hard palate and upper teeth.
- Reconstructive surgery may be needed after a large tumor is removed. These procedures restore how that part of the mouth works and looks. You also may have a dental implant to replace teeth.
- Neck dissection removes lymph nodes during mouth cancer surgery. It’s most common for cancers that start in the tongue, the floor of the mouth, or the lower gum.
MSK RECOMMENDS
It’s important to get enough nutrition before, during, and after head and neck cancer treatment. We have information about how to manage side effects during radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Watch this video to learn how to get enough nutrition during radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.
What is radiation therapy for mouth cancer?
Radiation therapy uses very precise high-energy beams to kill cancer cells.
Radiation oncologists are cancer doctors with special training in using radiation to treat cancer. MSK’s mouth cancer radiation therapy team is one of the largest and most experienced in the country.
MSK’s radiation experts do everything possible to limit healthy tissue’s exposure to radiation. Their goal is to deliver radiation just to the mouth tumor while keeping nearby healthy tissue safe.
Sometimes we can use methods that lower the number of treatments you’ll need. Our methods give us a better chance of controlling and curing the cancer. They can also reduce side effects and help you recover faster.
MSK is the only center to offer weekly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at no cost to you. This lets us make quick changes to improve your radiation treatment, if needed.
Learn more about the types of radiation therapy for mouth cancer.
Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as part of your radiation therapy. When you have chemotherapy and radiation at the same time, it’s called chemoradiation. It may help the tumor respond better to treatment.
We use radiation therapy:
- After surgery for mouth cancer, to lower the chance the cancer will come back.
- To treat mouth cancers that cannot be removed by surgery.
- To treat mouth cancers that come back after surgery.
What are chemotherapy and other systemic therapies for mouth cancer?
Systemic therapies are drugs that travel through the body to kill cancer cells. These therapies for mouth cancer largely include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
You may have neoadjuvant (NEE-oh-A-joo-vant) therapy. This is treatment you get before oral cancer surgery. Neoadjuvant therapy shrinks tumors so they’re easier to remove during surgery.
You may have adjuvant (A-joo-vunt) therapy, which is treatment you get after oral cancer surgery. It’s used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in your mouth or the rest of your body. Adjuvant therapy can lower the risk of mouth cancer coming back or spreading.
Here are the systemic therapies for mouth cancer:
- Chemotherapy
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Chemotherapy (chemo) is a treatment that uses medicine to stop or slow cancer cells from growing. Chemo puts medicines that target cancer cells into your vein. Most chemo medicines for mouth cancer can go through a standard intravenous (IV) drip. The medicine travels in your bloodstream to kill cancer cells in the body.
There are a few kinds of chemo medicines for mouth cancer. Your care team will talk with you about the best options.
Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as part of your radiation therapy. When you have chemotherapy and radiation at the same time, it’s called chemoradiation. It may help the tumor respond better to treatment.
- Targeted therapy
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Targeted therapies are cancer treatments that target a tumor’s gene changes (mutations or variants). It’s a personal treatment plan just for the type of cancer you have. These medicines often are given by mouth in pill form, or through an IV into your vein.
- Immunotherapy
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Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that boosts your immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer. Your immune system will then attack cancer cells, in much the same way it attacks bacteria or viruses.
Most other cancer treatments use drugs or radiation to target cancer cells directly. This medicine is most often given through an IV into your vein.
We’ll test to see if there is a protein called PD-L1 on the cancer cells. This test can help tell us if immunotherapy drugs may be the right treatment for you.
How does tumor genetic testing improve mouth cancer treatment?
A tumor genetic profiling test is also called genomic testing, molecular profiling, or next-generation sequencing. The test uses a sample taken from a tumor. We also consider sending blood samples as well, to learn more about the tumor’s genes.
At MSK, broad genetic testing of the tumor is a routine part of how we treat mouth cancer. We’re one of only a few cancer centers in the world to profile mouth tumors as part of standard care.
Genomic testing tells us which genetic changes (mutations or variants) caused mouth cancer and made it grow. The test results let us target those genes for treatment, a method called targeted therapy.
If we know which mutations you have, we know which treatments will work best on your tumor. Almost all of these genetic changes are only in cancer cells, not in normal cells. They cannot be passed on to your children.
MSK uses a testing tool developed at MSK called MSK-IMPACT®. It tests for changes in more than 500 genes. The most common genetic changes in mouth cancer include mutations in the genes:
- TP53
- CDKN2A
- PIK3CA
- NOTCH1
Our care goes beyond cancer treatment
The health of your body and mind matter to us after treatment, too. MSK's follow-up care and support programs help you and your loved ones cope with cancer.
MSK Recommends
Bring these questions to your next appointment
When you learn you have mouth cancer, you’ll probably have many questions for your cancer doctor at your first visit. Talking about treatment options with your doctors can help you feel confident when making decisions about your care.
- What type of mouth cancer do I have, and what stage is it?
- Did I have all the scans I need to learn the stage?
- What genetic testing do you offer for mouth cancer?
- What are the best treatment options for the type and stage of mouth cancer I have?
- When can I start treatment?
- Can I get mouth cancer treatment at MSK close to my home?
- What are the risks and side effects of mouth cancer treatment?
- Are there new mouth cancer drugs I can try?
- Do you have a clinical trial that’s right for me?
Mouth cancer clinical trials
Your care team may talk with you about joining a mouth cancer clinical trial.
Anyone can join a clinical trial from the very start of treatment, if there’s one that’s right for you.
Researchers follow strict rules to make sure all clinical trials are safe. The MSK research team will answer your questions and help you get ready for the trial. We follow your progress and keep you safe every step of the way.
MSK strongly encourages people from all races, genders, ages, and backgrounds to join clinical trials. It’s very important for research studies to include people from many backgrounds. It’s how our researchers can learn if a new treatment works for everyone, not just one group of people.
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research studies to test new treatments, procedures, or devices to see how well they work. Every cancer treatment given to a person was first tested in a clinical trial.
Clinical trials can help us learn about new mouth cancer drugs, such as:
- What are the ways the drug helps people?
- What side effects does the drug cause?
- What dose of the drug is safe to give?
- How well does the drug treat different types of mouth cancer?
Video | :51
Why Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial at MSK
Medical oncologist Dr. Anna Varghese explains how clinical trials give MSK patients access to the latest cancer treatments and discoveries.
Many patients will ask us, “Why should I participate in a clinical trial?”
The reason I work at a place like Memorial Sloan Kettering is I'm really hopeful clinical trials will help us to learn more how to take better care of you, and many other patients with cancer as well.
As an academic medical center, we have our best scientists and our best researchers, together with our clinical teams and our pharmacists and our nurses and the doctors, all with one focus of trying to provide you with the best care that we can.
Clinical trials often give us access to some of the newest science, and the newest medications, and the newest technologies, that are really at the cutting edge of cancer treatments – and our hope is to bring that to you and to more patients. And clinical trials are the ways that we can do that.
What are the benefits of joining a clinical trial?
If you join a clinical trial, you may be able to try new drugs to treat your type of mouth cancer. Our patients may get a new treatment at MSK years before it’s offered at other places.
Here are some ways enrolling in a clinical trial can help you get the best treatment:
Chance to try new treatments
sometimes years before they’re available to everyone.
Personal care and support
from your expert care team.
No extra cost to you
for treatments you get during a clinical trial.
The MSK mouth cancer team
At MSK, your care is always a team effort. Our care teams combine the skill and experience of many kinds of mouth cancer experts. They work together to give you the best cancer treatment.
MSK has more than 70 head and neck cancer experts, including Dr. Nancy Lee (left), Dr. Richard Wong, and Dr. Alan Ho.
THE MSK DIFFERENCE
MSK has Magnet® designation for our nurses’ excellent patient care, strong leadership, and a culture that values constant improvement. Only about 1 out of every 10 hospitals in the country have Magnet status. It’s one of the highest honors a hospital can earn for nursing excellence.
What types of MSK experts care for and treat people with mouth cancer?
Your care team has special training in how to diagnose and treat mouth cancer. Their goal is to support you during and after treatment for mouth cancer.
We take care of the person, not just the cancer. Our social workers are here to help you and your family with the emotional, social, and physical effects of mouth cancer.
Your care team has doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers who are experts in mouth cancer. They include:
- Head and neck, dental, and reconstructive surgeons.
- Medical oncologists (cancer doctors).
- Radiation oncologists (doctors who uses radiation to treat cancer).
- Radiologists (doctors who are experts in imaging).
Video | 1:57
How to Prepare for Your First Appointment at MSK
Medical oncologist Dr. Devika Rao shares tips on what to expect during your first visit at MSK, and how to get ready.
We want to ensure your first visit is as productive and supportive as possible. Here are some tips on how you can best prepare.
- Know your medical and family history. Be ready to share your personal medical history and any significant family history of cancer or genetic conditions. This can influence treatment choices.
- Write down your questions. You may have many concerns. Bring a written list so we can address them all. Questions might include prognosis, treatment options, side effects, or logistics surrounding treatment. We understand that this is a new journey, so no question is trivial.
- Bring a support person. A friend or family member can offer emotional support, take notes, and help remember what is discussed.
- Be prepared for a thorough discussion. The first visit will include a detailed conversation about your diagnosis, possible treatment plans, and next steps. It may also include additional lab work or imaging. We are here to help you through every step of this process, and we’ll work together to create a care plan that fits your needs and goals.
Your team meets with a panel of experts who review and talk about your diagnosis. They discuss new ideas and the latest research. This expert panel then works together to choose your treatment plan.
Your MSK mouth cancer care team may include these experts:
- Head and neck surgeon
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A head and neck surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the head and neck. This includes the tonsils, tongue, mouth, lips, larynx, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, and thyroid gland.
- Radiation oncologist
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A radiation oncologist is a cancer doctor with special training in using radiation therapy (RT) to treat cancer.
- Head and neck medical oncologist
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A head and neck medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in head and neck cancers. This includes cancers of the tonsils, tongue, mouth, lips, larynx, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, and thyroid gland.
- Dental oncologist
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A dental oncologist is a general dentist with special training in managing oral problems from cancer, treating cancer, or both.
- Maxillofacial (face, jaw, and mouth) prosthodontist
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A maxillofacial (max-ill-o-FAY-shul) prosthodontist (pros-thoh-DON-tist) has special training in treating problems of the face, jaw, and nearby soft tissue. They’re trained in making a prothesis (pros-THEE-sis), an artificial (man-made) piece that replaces a body part. It’s also called a prosthetic.
- Oral and maxillofacial (face, jaw, and mouth) surgeon
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An oral and maxillofacial (max-ill-o-FAY-shul) surgeon is a doctor with special training in treating many problems and injuries that affect the head, neck, mouth, jaw, and face.
- Endocrinologist
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An endocrinologist (EN-doh-krih-NAH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in endocrine problems. These disorders affect glands and organs that make hormones, and include diabetes, infertility, and thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary gland problems.
- Neurosurgeon
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A neurosurgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord or spine, and nerves).
- Plastic and reconstructive surgeon
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A plastic and reconstructive surgeon is a doctor with special training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures restore function and appearance.
- Radiologist
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A radiologist is a doctor with special training in using imaging to diagnose and treat disease. Imaging includes X-rays, sonography, ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Pathologist
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A pathologist is a doctor who uses a microscope to make a diagnosis from cell and tissue samples. They analyze the samples to learn more about a health issue, such as cancer.
- Social worker
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A social worker is a healthcare provider with special training in helping people cope with problems in their lives. They support your emotional health by providing counseling and practical help.
You’re going to be in a department where both the volume and variety of cases is second to none in the country. No matter what kind of head and neck cancer you have, MSK has the experience to deal with it.
Request an appointment
Talk with an MSK Care Advisor. We're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mouth cancer support services and programs
Clinical social workers Rachel Henesy (left), Angela Katrichis, and Estina Cain support MSK patients and their families.
How does MSK support people with mouth cancer?
Cancer treatment affects your body and emotions. The experience is not the same for everyone. We’ll support you during your treatment.
But you’re also a person with a life beyond cancer. We want to help you get back to it. That’s why we have many programs and services to support you and your loved ones.
You can connect with other people going through cancer treatment in our virtual support groups, led by a social worker.
Or, you may need help with side effects of treatment. We have experts with special training in treating pain. Our dental and rehabilitation experts also can keep your mouth working as it should, for eating, swallowing, and speaking.
Your caregivers are a very important part of your care team. They need support, too. We have a Caregivers Clinic to help your loved ones cope with cancer.
Ways we support you
Mouth cancer treatment can affect how you talk, eat, and drink. Our speech therapists help manage side effects, including changes in:
- Speech. You may have trouble saying words, or people have trouble understanding what you’re saying.
- How well you can swallow.
- How well your tongue or jaw can move.
Your speech therapist works with physical and occupational therapists to help care for common problems after treatment. They may recommend exercises to improve your range of motion and muscle strength.
Our Integrative Medicine and Wellness Service offers complementary, natural, and holistic treatments. They include acupuncture, meditation, massage therapy, yoga, and exercise.
Cancer therapies can cause side effects. You may want support to cope with:
- Pain.
- Fatigue (feeling very tired).
- Nerve problems.
- Nausea (feeling like throwing up).
- Insomnia (trouble with sleeping).
- Stress.
Without using prescription drugs, integrative therapies can help improve side effects of treatment.
MSK integrative medicine services are available in New York City, New Jersey, Westchester, and on Long Island.
Managing pain from cancer and its treatment is an important part of cancer care. MSK was the first cancer center in the country to have a program just for treating pain in people with cancer.
Our pain experts will help relieve or manage pain after surgery. They can help while you’re still in the hospital, and after you’re home.
We have experts who manage the symptoms and side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea during chemotherapy.
We offer counseling and support to help you manage anxiety, depression, anger, or loneliness. There are individual and group counseling sessions, both in person and through telemedicine visits. Counseling is open to you and your family, separately or together.
We also run support groups and programs if you want to talk with other people going through a similar experience. Our social workers can offer information about how to talk about your diagnosis with family members, work colleagues, and friends.
Cancer treatment can affect your digestion (how your body breaks down the food you eat). It can change your taste, how you eat, and how hungry you are.
- Our clinical dietitian nutritionists can help with:
- Planning healthy meals at home.
- Advice about special diets.
- Dealing with food allergies.
- Managing symptoms such as weight loss or gain, and loss of appetite (not feeling hungry).
- Eating healthy to help recovery.
It’s never too late to quit smoking and using tobacco. Using tobacco products is a main cause of mouth cancer.
Our Tobacco Treatment Program has experts who can help you quit smoking. It’s open to people who never had cancer or a disease linked to tobacco.
It also welcomes anyone who has cancer, and cancer survivors. Our program offers treatment options to help you quit, such as counseling and medicine.
THE MSK DIFFERENCE
MSK is a place where people of all genders and sexual orientations feel welcome and treated with respect. Our LGBTQI+ Cancer Care Program gives you the support you need during cancer care. It’s for LGBTQI+ people getting screened or treated at MSK, or in our survivorship program.
MSK’s treatment locations
We believe mouth cancer care needs to be as convenient as possible. We have mouth cancer treatment locations in New York City, Westchester, on Long Island, and in New Jersey.
At our locations, you can meet with your care team and get your mouth cancer treatment. You may be able to have chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or join a clinical trial.
MSK brings its expert care closer to you so you can get back home to what matters most.
Expert cancer care where you need it
Many of MSK’s mouth cancer treatments and services are available at locations across New York and New Jersey.
We’ll guide you about where you can go for check-ups, procedures, or treatments, based on your diagnosis and treatments.