Oral Cancer 5-Year Survival Rates by Race, Gender, and Stage of Diagnosis

Oral cancer survival rates have increased approximately 27 percent (nearly 15 percentage points) from the mid-1970s until the latest (2012–2018) National Cancer Institute survey. In spite of this improvement, significant disparities remain in some population groups.

Table 1 presents the most recent oral cancer survival rates (2012–2018) by cancer stage at the time of diagnosis for adult men and women of all ages and for selected racial groups.

Oral Cancer Relative Survival (2012–2018)

  • Overall, 68% of people with oral cancer survive for 5 years.
  • Oral cancer survival rates are significantly lower for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native men and women.
  • Diagnosing oral cancer at an early, localized stage significantly increases 5-year survival rates.

Table 1: Oral Cancer Relative Survival by Age, Race, and Gender

Probability in percent of surviving 5 years following a diagnosis of oral cancer, by selected characteristics, most recent, 2012–2018
Race Gender All Stages Localized Regional Distant Unstaged
All races All 68.0 86.3 69.0 40.4 59.9
All races Male 67.7 85.7 70.4 41.3 56.7
All races Female 68.8 87.1 63.8 37.2 58.8
Non-Hispanic White All 69.8 86.7 70.8 41.1 56.9
Non-Hispanic White Male 69.8 86.3 72.4 42.4 56.8
Non-Hispanic White Female 69.7 87.4 64.3 36.6 57.1
Non-Hispanic Black All 52.2 77.1 56.4 30.6 39.5
Non-Hispanic Black Male 51.4 74.8 57.4 30.9 39.1
Non-Hispanic Black Female 54.0 79.5 53.4 29.5 39.7
Hispanic All 64.7 85.8 64.3 37.9 54.6
Hispanic Male 62.4 85.2 64.7 37.7 47.2
Hispanic Female 69.6 86.5 63.3 38.5 65.4
Asian/Pacific Islander All 68.2 85.8 68.2 48.5 54.2
Asian/Pacific Islander Male 66.0 83.5 67.8 48.7 54.0
Asian/Pacific Islander Female 72.2 87.8 69.0 48.0 53.7
American Indian/Alaska Native All 59.4 78.7 64.9 31.7 -
American Indian/Alaska Native Male 59.1 70.2 67.9 32.8 -
American Indian/Alaska Native Female 59.7 88.7 54.1 30.0 -

Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, National Cancer Institute Surveillance Research Program based on SEER 17 areas for 2012–2018: San Francisco, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, Seattle, Utah, Atlanta, San Jose-Monterey, Los Angeles, Alaska Native Registry, Rural Georgia, California (excluding San Francisco, San Jose-Monterey, and Los Angeles), Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Georgia (excluding Atlanta and rural Georgia).

- Estimates based on fewer than 25 cases.

Last Reviewed
April 2023