Treatment of Stage I Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer

Learn about the treatments listed below in the Treatment Option Overview.

Treatment of stage I 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:

• surgery (wide local excision)
• internal radiation therapy with or without external radiation therapy

Front of the tongue

If cancer is in the front of the tongue, treatment may include:

• surgery (wide local excision)
• internal radiation therapy with or without external radiation therapy
• radiation therapy to lymph nodes in the neck

Buccal mucosa

If cancer is in the buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheeks), treatment may include:

• surgery (wide local excision) for tumors smaller than 1 centimeter, with or without internal and/or external radiation therapy
• surgery (wide local excision with skin graft) or radiation therapy for larger tumors

Floor of the mouth

If cancer is in the floor (bottom) of the mouth, treatment may include:

• surgery (wide local excision) for tumors smaller than ½ centimeter
• surgery (wide local excision) or radiation therapy for larger tumors

Lower gingiva

If cancer is in the lower gingiva (gums), treatment may include:

• surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone, and skin graft)
• radiation therapy with or without surgery

Retromolar trigone

If cancer is in the retromolar trigone (the small area behind the wisdom teeth), treatment may include:

• surgery (wide local excision, which may include removing part of the jawbone)
• radiation therapy with or without surgery

Upper gingiva or hard palate

If cancer is in the upper gingiva (gums) or the hard palate (the roof of the mouth), treatment is usually surgery (wide local excision) with or without 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.