Stage 3 oral cancer is a more developed form of oral cancer, but the disease has not spread to distant sites or organs. Treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, other therapies, or a combination of methods.

Oral cancer refers to cancer that arises in the oral cavity, or mouth. It also includes cancer that develops in the back section of the pharynx, or throat, just behind the mouth. This type of cancer in the oropharynx is known as oropharyngeal cancer.

Oral cancer can appear in areas such as the tongue, lips, gums, mouth floor, oropharynx, and other tissues. Treatment and outlooks vary depending on the cancer’s location and other factors.

This article will define stage 3 oral cancer and discuss symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and prevention.

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More than 90% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Stage 3 oral cancer describes a more developed form of the disease. However, oral cancers are not all the same, so stage 3 can mean a few different things.

The most common method for classifying cancer stages is the TNM system, which considers factors such as tumor size and cancer growth and spread. The American Cancer Society (ACS) describes the characteristics of each stage according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s TNM system.

Stage 3 oral cavity cancer has one of these characteristics:

  • The cancer can be any size and has reached a single lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor. The node is 3 centimeters (cm) or smaller.
  • The cancer’s size is greater than 4 cm.

Stage 3 oropharynx cancer without human papillomavirus (HPV) describes one of the following:

  • The cancer’s size is greater than 4 cm and is spreading into the area at the base of the tongue.
  • The cancer can be any size and has reached a single lymph node on the same side of the neck as the original tumor. The node is 3 cm or smaller, and the cancer may also be appearing in nearby areas.

HPV-positive refers to the occurrence of HPV in cells. For HPV-positive oropharynx cancer, stage 3 means the following:

  • The cancer spreads into the base of the tongue or other specific nearby structures or is larger than 4 cm. The cancer has also spread to one or multiple nodes on both sides of the neck or the side opposite to the original tumor site, with all nodes being smaller than 6 cm.

Stage 3 oral cancers do not involve spreading to distant organs or sites.

Learn more about oral cancer.

There are stages both before and after stage 3 cancer, as follows.

Stage 1

Excluding oropharyngeal cancer with HPV, stage 1 oral cancer is up to 2 cm in size and has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other sites.

Stage 2

Stage 2 oral cancer that is not HPV-positive is between 2 cm and 4 cm in size and has not spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other sites.

Final stages

In these final stages, the cancer is more advanced than stage 3, and tumors can be any size. Other characteristics can include a certain lymph node size, additional spread to nearby structures, spread to distant body parts, or a combination of some or all of these factors.

Oral cancer symptoms can vary according to the cancer location and other factors.

Some general symptoms may include:

  • a sore in the mouth, lip, or throat area that does not go away
  • a lump or thickened patch in the mouth, lip, or throat area
  • a red or white patch or lesion in the mouth
  • a mass or atypical bump in the neck
  • oral pain or bleeding
  • trouble with chewing, speaking, or swallowing
  • issues with jaw or tongue movement
  • a numb feeling in parts of the mouth
  • a sore throat that does not go away
  • a sensation of something being stuck in the throat
  • loss of voice or a hoarse voice
  • ear pain
  • loss of weight
  • jaw swelling, which can affect denture comfort and fit

Learn more about the early signs of oral cancer.

Researchers do not know all the causes of oral cancer. However, multiple known factors can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease.

Risk factors include:

  • heavy alcohol use
  • smoking or tobacco use
  • combined alcohol and tobacco use
  • inherited gene mutations
  • HPV infection
  • being older in age
  • exposure to the sun and UV light
  • a diet low in nutrition

Treatment depends on where the cancer is, its development, and other factors.

Treatment methods for stage 3 oral cancer include:

Treatment can involve a combination of methods. As one example, a doctor may use surgery to remove the cancer and follow this with radiation therapy.

Generally, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for people with localized oral cancer that has not spread is around 86%. That rate is 69% for cancer that is regional, which means it has spread only to nearby areas or lymph nodes.

However, outlooks vary depending on the cancer’s location and other factors. For example, the 5-year survival rate for regional oral cancer of the lip is 63%. People need to consult a doctor to learn about the outlook for their particular case.

Reducing specific risk factors may help lower the risk of developing oral cancer. However, there is no way to prevent all cancers completely.

Strategies can include:

  • limiting or avoiding alcohol
  • avoiding tobacco, if applicable
  • limiting sun and UV exposure
  • consuming a nutritious diet
  • preventing HPV infection

The HPV vaccine can also help protect a person from certain HPV infections.

It is also important to have regular checkups with a dentist and doctor to increase the likelihood of early cancer detection.

Oral cancer can occur in areas of the mouth and oropharynx, the section of the throat behind the oral cavity. Stage 3 oral cancer is a more developed form of cancer but can refer to varying situations according to the type.

Risk factors can include tobacco and alcohol use, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, exposure to UV light, and other factors. Avoiding certain risk factors can help lower the likelihood of developing oral cancers.

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are a few treatment options, and treatment may use a combination of methods. Outlooks depend on the cancer’s location and other factors.