1) Advanced lesions of cancer of the oral tongue are best managed with a combination of surgery and radiation. 2) The 5-year survival rate for oral tongue cancer is less than 50%, and a key to better survival is early detection and treatment. 3) The management of oral tongue cancer involves tailoring treatment based on the stage of cancer, with smaller early-stage cancers treated with either radiation or surgery, and larger cancers treated with a combination of both.