Oral cancer and precancer: treatment

The main purpose of this article is to explain what happens when a patient with oral cancer, or suspected of having one, is referred to a joint oral cancer clinic, and what might happen thereafter. The principles of disease staging and treatment planning are reviewed, followed by an outline account of the main forms of treatment available. Emphasis is placed on the factors and techniques underlying the use of radiotherapy and of surgery, and the use of lasers, chemotherapy and immunotherapy is also mentioned.