The most suitable treatment of oral cancer depends on many things including:
size and location of the cancer
whether it has spread
personal factors (e.g. age, general health and treatment history)
types of treatment available (and whether there are any clinical trials that are suitable for you)
your preferences for treatment.
Whilst some people can be treated with surgery alone, others may need extra treatment after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. Your cancer care team will decide whether it is necessary for you based on a detailed report on the cancer from the pathologist 1–2 weeks after surgery. Adding another type of treatment after surgery is called adjuvant therapy. This can be either radiation therapy alone or combined with chemotherapy (called chemoradiation), which is typically started about 6 weeks after surgery to allow recovery and for planning purposes. The treatment itself usually lasts about 6 weeks.
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