Stages describe or categorize cancer based on the amount of cancer in the body and where it is diagnosed first. The extent of cancer is often called this. Test information is used to determine the size of the tumor, the parts of the organ, the area of cancer, the spread of cancer from where it began to develop and cancer where it spreads. Your medical team will use the stage for treatment planning and evaluating the results.

Stage 0 (or carcinoma in situ)

When cancer is in the lining of the mouth or lips only.

Stage 1

The tumor is 2 cm or smaller.

Stage 2

The tumor is larger than 2 cm but no more than 4 cm.

Stage 3

The tumor is larger than 4 cm or cancer has spread to one lymph node in the neck on the same side as the tumor and the lymph node is 3 cm or smaller.

Stage 4A

The tumor is any size and has grown into any of the following:

• The bone in the palate or lower jaw
• A nerve in the lower jaw called the inferior alveolar nerve
• The floor of the mouth
• The skin of the face

Cancer may also have spread to 1 or more lymph nodes in the neck, and they are 6 cm or smaller.

Stage 4B

The tumor has grown into the soft tissues of the cheek such as muscles, nerves or blood vessels, or into the base of the skull, or the tumor is wrapped around the internal carotid artery of the neck.

Or, cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck and one is larger than 6 cm or cancer in a lymph node has grown into the surrounding tissue.

Stage 4C

Cancer has spread to other parts of the body (called distant metastasis), such as to the lungs, liver or bone. This is also called metastatic oral cancer.