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

Oral cancer survival rates have increased approximately 15 percent from the mid 1960s until the latest (2004) 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 by cancer stage at the time of diagnosis for adult men and women of all ages and for selected racial groups.  Table 2 includes oral cancer survival rates from 1974 to 2003.

Oral Cancer Relative Survival (1996 to 2003)  (Table 1)

  • Overall, 60% of people with oral cancer survive for 5 years.
  • Oral cancer survival rates are significantly lower for Black men and women.
  • Diagnosing oral cancer at an early stage significantly increases 5-year survival rates.

Oral Cancer Relative Survival Trends (Table 2)

  • Oral cancer survival rates have steadily improved since 1975.
  • Disparities in survival rates between White and Black men have remained throughout this time period.

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 1996 to 2003
Race Gender All Stages Localized Regional Distant
All Races All 60.0 82.8 51.8 27.8
All Races Male 58.3 82.4 51.6 26.1
All Races Female 63.4 83.4 52.6 32.1
White All 62.0 83.3 53.8 27.3
White Male 61.2 83.6 54.3 25.4
White Female 63.6 82.7 52.6 31.8
Black All 40.6 73.7 33.7 26.2
Black Male 35.0 64.0 31.1 25.0
Black Female 54.0 86.5 41.0 30.0

Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, National Cancer Institute
Surveillance Research Program, based on November 2006 submission of SEER Series 9 (1996-2003)

Table 2: Oral Cancer Relative Survival by Age, Race, and Gender (Trends)

Probability in percent of surviving 5 years following a diagnosis of oral cancer, by selected characteristics, 1975 to 1979
Race Gender All Stages Localized Regional Distant
All Races All 53.4 76.6 41.5 18.8
All Races Male 52.0 76.0 39.1 17.2
All Races Female 56.4 77.8 46.4 22.9
White All 55.1 77.8 42.4 18.2
White Male 54.3 77.8 40.5 16.9
White Female 56.9 77.7 46.4 21.3
Black All 36.6 56.8 33.6 14.7
Black Male 30.6 46.9 29.2 10.7
Black Female 48.7 72.4 43.0 23.3

 

Probability in percent of surviving 5 years following a diagnosis of oral cancer, by selected characteristics, 1985 to 1989
Race Gender All Stages Localized Regional Distant
All Races All 54.6 81.0 42.3 17.5
All Races Male 51.8 80.4 40.0 14.2
All Races Female 60.3 82.2 47.2 26.6
White All 56.9 81.5 43.7 18.4
White Male 54.8 81.1 41.7 15.2
White Female 60.9 82.2 47.8 26.1
Black All 35.0 70.1 31.3 11.2
Black Male 29.9 63.9 28.9 9.5
Black Female 47.7 77.7 37.8 18.2

 

Source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, National Cancer Institute
Surveillance Research Program, based on previous submissions of SEER data(1977-2003)

Last Reviewed
July 2018