Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a lethal and deforming disease of rising global significance. While advances in diagnosis and management have improved many aspects of quality of life, approximately 50% of patients die from progressive, recurrent or metastatic disease. The authors of this paper look towards the future of cancer therapy, combining innovative and imaginative approaches, to hypothesise new, effective tumour targetting therapies that reduce deleterious side effects from contemporary invasive and ablative treatment. Ultimately, they pose the question: can we envisage a time when terminal diseases are regarded as chronic, manageable conditions?