What Are the Treatments for Jaw Cancer?

Jaw cancer is a type of oral cancer that occurs in the tissues surrounding the jaw bone. If left untreated, jaw cancer has the ability to metastasize (spread) to the lymph nodes and other areas of the the body. There are several types of treatment for bone cancer, depending on what stage the cancer is in.

Surgical Removal

• One of the first treatments for jaw cancer is the surgical removal of the tumor and any affected surrounding tissue. This is typically used in cancer that is in its early stages.

Lymph Node Removal

• If the cancer has begun to spread to the surrounding lymph nodes, surgical removal may also include the removal of the lymph nodes. Infected lymph nodes give the cancer access to the lymph system, which can spread the cancer throughout the rest of the body.

Radiation

• Radiation may be done alone or in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as surgery. Radiation uses ionizing radiation, specifically targeted at the jaw tissue infected with cancer. This is used to kill the cancer cells. The treatment may not get rid of the cancer altogether, but it can significantly decrease the size of a tumor, helping give some pain relief.

Chemotherapy

• When radiation does not work, or if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other tissues of the body, chemotherapy may also be an option. Chemotherapy uses pharmaceuticals that are introduced to the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream they can travel throughout the body, targeting fast-reproducing cancer cells and killing them.

Treatment Success

• Treatment success often depends on how far along the cancer is, as well as the type of jaw cancer. Even if the treatment is successful, the cancer may still return, either in the same location or in other secondary areas of the body.