About cancer of the tongue
What is cancer of the tongue?
Tongue cancers are oral cancers that are differentiated by their location in the mouth and on the tongue. If the cancer is on the forward portion of the tongue, it is known as a squamous cell cancer of the oral tongue. If the cancer is located towards the rear third of the tongue, it is known as a squamous cell cancer at the base of the tongue.
The characteristics of these two cancers are quite distinct, and reflect the differences in their origins. The difference in origins is also the reason that the treatment of these two forms of tongue cancer is quite different. Oral cancers are relatively rare, representing only about three percent of all cancers.
What are the symptoms for cancer of the tongue?
In the early stages of tongue cancer, especially with cancer at the base of the tongue, you might not notice any symptoms. The most common early symptom of tongue cancer is a sore on your tongue that doesn’t heal and that bleeds easily. You might also notice mouth or tongue pain.
Other symptoms of tongue cancer include:
- a red or white patch on your tongue that persists
- a tongue ulcer that persists
- Pain when swallowing
- mouth numbness
- a Sore throat that persists
- bleeding from your tongue with no apparent cause
- a lump on your tongue that persists
What are the causes for cancer of the tongue?
The cause of tongue cancer is unknown. However, certain behaviors and conditions can increase your risk, including:
- smoking or chewing tobacco
- heavy drinking
- being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease
- chewing betel, which is particularly common in south and southeast Asia
- a family history of tongue or other mouth cancers
- a personal history of certain cancers, such as other squamous cell cancers
- a poor diet (there is some evidence) that a diet low in fruits and vegetables increases the risk of all oral cancers)
- poor oral hygiene (constant irritation from jagged teeth or ill-fitting dentures can increase your risk of tongue cancer)
Tongue cancer is also more common in older men than in women or younger people. Oral cancer are most common in people over 55 years old.
What are the treatments for cancer of the tongue?
Treatment for tongue cancer depends on how big the tumor is and how far the cancer has spread. You might only need one treatment or you might need a combination of treatments.
Early mouth cancer that hasn’t spread can usually be treated with a small operation to remove the affected area. Larger tumors usually need to be removed with a surgery called a partial glossectomy, in which part of the tongue is removed.
If doctors remove a large piece of your tongue, you might undergo reconstruction surgery. In this surgery, your doctor will take a piece of skin or tissue from another part of your body and use it to rebuild your tongue. The goal of both the glossectomy and reconstruction surgery is to remove the cancer while damaging as little of your mouth as possible.
Glossectomy can lead to severe side effects, including changes in how you eat, breathe, talk, and swallow. Speech therapy can help you learn to adjust to these changes. In addition, talk therapy can help you cope.
If the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes, those will likely be removed with surgery.
If you have a large tumor in your tongue or the cancer has spread, you’ll probably need to have a combination of surgery to remove the tumor and radiation to ensure that all tumor cells are removed or killed. This can lead to side effects such as a dry mouth and taste changes.
Doctors may also recommend chemotherapy to treat your cancer, in combination with surgery and/or radiation.
What are the risk factors for cancer of the tongue?
The cause of tongue cancer is unknown. However, certain behaviors and conditions can increase your risk, including:
- smoking or chewing tobacco
- heavy drinking
- being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease
- chewing betel, which is particularly common in south and southeast Asia
- a family history of tongue or other mouth cancers
- a personal history of certain cancers, such as other squamous cell cancers
- a poor diet (there is some evidence that a diet low in fruits and vegetables increases the risk of all oral cancers)
- poor oral hygiene (constant irritation from jagged teeth or ill-fitting dentures can increase your risk of tongue cancer)
Tongue cancer is also more common in older men than in women or younger people. Oral cancers are most common in people over 55 years old.