Survival rate data is maintained on the American Cancer Society website. In the scheme of things it has a lower survival rate than breast, colon, kidney, melanoma, thyroid, uterine or prostate cancer and a higher survival rate than lung, esophogeal, liver, stomach or pancreatic. The overall 5 year survival rate for all cancers combined is 62% and it is 56% for oral. The survival rate is impacted by whether the disease is local, regional or distant. Tumor type also factors in. The location is also a factor.

The statistics don't consider age, race, health habits or genetic predisposition so try not to to go into the doom and gloom aspects. The statistics are fairly difficult to translate into an individual and the best place to get them from is a doctor with experience in treating oral cancers. For example my oncologist gave me a 38% five year survival (the NCI statistic) and my radiation oncologist gave me an 80% five year survival based on her experience with thousands of cancer patients.

Yes, it is serious or, at very least, should be taken seriously. Prompt, accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment, is critical for long term survival. Early mis-steps can be very costly. Alternative treatments have thus far not proven themselves to be efficacious.

Personally, I would not even consider going to anything less than one of the 19 nationwide comprehensive cancer centers. Ohio State University is one them.