UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

At UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, our survival rates for tongue and other mouth cancers are among the best in the world. Most of our patients are able to beat cancer while preserving their ability to taste, chew, swallow and talk. 

We have been able to achieve these outstanding outcomes because of the personalized treatment approach we use for mouth cancer, also known as oral or oral cavity cancer. Our goal is to cure your cancer, while aiming to preserve your ability to taste, chew, speak and swallow. 

To achieve these goals, our internationally esteemed head and neck cancer specialists, believe in a team approach to mouth cancer that considers all possible treatments. This means that all of our experienced cancer specialists—medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, head and neck surgical oncologists, speech pathologists and others—will be involved in your case, combining their deep expertise to determine how to best treat the cancer.

Cancer can strike the mouth, or oral cavity, in the following places: 

  • The front two-thirds of the tongue 
  • Lips
  • Gums
  • The floor of the mouth underneath the tongue
  • The hard roof of the mouth
  • The inside of the cheeks (also known as the buccal mucosa)
  • The space behind the wisdom teeth (also called the retromolar trigone) 


Cancers that affect the back (or base) of the tongue, tonsils and other areas of the throat are classified as throat or oropharyngeal cancers.

Most mouth cancers are squamous cell cancers, which grow in the thin, flat squamous cells of the mouth. Risk factors for mouth cancer include tobacco and alcohol use and sun exposure (for lip cancer). 

Chef Triumphs Over Tongue Cancer

Cancer specialists across the country told top chef Grant Achatz that his only option for treating a stage 4 tumor was to remove most of his tongue. The head and neck cancer team at UChicago Medicine offered him a different approach, one that saved his tongue and his life.

Convenient Locations for Cancer Care

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for head and neck cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282

 

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By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.
Surgeon Nishant Agrawal, MD, and medical oncologist, Everett Vokes, MD

Cancer Care Second Opinions

Request a second opinion from UChicago Medicine experts in head and neck cancer care.

researcher in cancer lab

Participate in a Clinical Trial

UChicago Medicine head & neck cancer experts are actively conducting clinical trials of new and promising treatments.

Supportive oncology team, including Chris Daugherty, MD

Helping You Cope With Cancer

Our Supportive Oncology program offers a range of services to support you and your family during your cancer treatment.