Mouth cancer care at Mayo Clinic
The doctors and other healthcare professionals at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center provide excellent care for people with mouth cancer.
Your Mayo Clinic care team
At Mayo Clinic, care for people with mouth cancer is directed by head and neck oncologic surgeons. Surgeons who treat mouth cancer include face, mouth and jaw surgeons, who also are known as oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Other surgeons who treat mouth cancer include ear, nose and throat surgeons, who also are known as ENT specialists or otolaryngologists.
These specialists may coordinate a multispecialty team to treat your condition. The care team might include experts in radiation oncology, medical oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation therapies, and other specialties as needed.
People with mouth cancer receive care in Mayo Clinic's Head and Neck Cancer Center.
Advanced diagnosis and treatment
At Mayo Clinic, doctors use the latest treatments and technology:
- In select cases of mouth cancer, surgeons use sentinel node biopsy to determine whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and which lymph nodes are at risk.
- Highly focused forms of radiation therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy, allow radiation oncologists to target cancer cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue.
- Complex reconstructive surgical therapies, such as free tissue transfer or free flaps, allow surgeons to rebuild the mouth and face for people with large mouth cancers.
Mayo Clinic doctors will work with you to review all of your treatment options and choose the treatment that best suits your needs and goals. The range of treatments offered to people with mouth cancer includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic specialists are respected for their experience and expertise in caring for people with mouth cancer. At Mayo Clinic, you can expect:
- Personalized care. A team of specialists works together to be sure your treatment plan considers all of your needs. Your team might involve experts in oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation therapies, and other specialties as needed.
- Experience you can trust. Mayo Clinic doctors care for many people with mouth cancer. The experts at Mayo Clinic have the knowledge and resources to provide you with exactly the care you need.
- Nationally recognized excellence. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets the strict standards for a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. These standards recognize scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked as the top hospital in Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is ranked as the top hospital in Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, is ranked the top hospital in Florida.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.
Jan. 16, 2025