Treatments for stage 0 oral cancer

The following are treatment options for stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) oral cancer. Your healthcare team will suggest treatments based on your needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan.

Surgery is the main treatment for stage 0 oral cancer.

Wide local excision removes the tumour along with a margin of normal tissue around it. The amount of tissue removed along with the tumour depends on the location of the tumour. This surgery is usually done through the mouth (called the transoral approach).

Radiation therapy is rarely used for stage 0 oral cancer. It may be used if you cannot have surgery.

Talk to your doctor about clinical trials open to people with oral cancer in Canada. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, find and treat cancer. Find out more about clinical trials.