Tongue cancer is head and neck cancer that starts in the tongue cells and can develop lesions (tumors) on the tongue.
Tongue cancer can occur:
- On the front of the tongue, called oral tongue cancer
- At the base of the tongue, it attaches to the bottom of your mouth, called oropharyngeal cancer
Symptoms of tongue cancer
- Reddish or White Patch on The Tongue
- Sore Throat
- Ulcer or lump on the tongue
- Pain when Swallowing
- Numbness in the Mouth
- Pain or Burning sensation on the tongue
- Difficulty Speaking
- Lump in the neck
- Unexplained bleeding from the tongue
Causes and risk factors:
The major risk factors for developing tongue cancer are smoking, over consumption of alcohol, and infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)
Diagnosis:
Your doctor performs a biopsy as the first step in diagnosing tongue cancer. During this, a small amount of tissue is removed from the part of the tongue where it is cancerous. A microscope is used to examine the tissue under a microscope to help make the diagnosis.
Your doctor will suggest special x-rays, like CT scans, MRIs, or Panorex, (A Panorex is an x-ray that shows the entire upper and lower jaw, plus the sinuses.) These imaging tests provide details about cancer. If cancer is present in your tongue, these images can show how deep the tumor is and if it has spread.
Treatment:
Tongue Cancer Surgery
Glossectomy is the surgery performed to remove cancers of the tongue. Partial glossectomy is used when smaller cancers of the tongue are to be removed. A more substantial tongue portion may need to be removed for more significant cancers.
Reconstruction surgery to rebuild the tongue is the part of the care plan. The surgeons preserve and reconstruct the remaining tongue portion using innovative techniques to achieve the best function possible.
Radiation Therapy for Tongue Cancer
Radiation therapy for tongue cancer involves aiming high-energy beams of particles at the tumor. When the particles reach the tumor, they destroy the cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
