Carcinoma of the Tongue

What is Tongue Cancer?

The tongue is generally used for swallowing, taste, chewing, and cleaning of the oral cavity.Tongue cancer is also known as, “squamous cell cancer of the tongue.” Up to 30% of patients with one primary head and neck tumor have second primary malignancies which are usually on the tongue or the lips of the oral cavity which is apart of the soft tissue neck. Crazy enough, 3% of these malignancies arise within the oral cavity. Tongue cancer is more common of all the forms of oral cavity cancers. Most of these cancers are uncommon before the age of 40.

Factors of tongue carcinoma

Cancers of the head, neck, and tongue are strongly associated with alcohol, tobacco smoking, and tobacco chewing. Tobacco use has been linked to about 80% of all squamous carcinoma cases of the tongue, head, and neck. Smokers are 25 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. Although if a patient were to quit smoking and chewing there chances of getting carcinoma will decrease gradually. Places where the betel nut is chewed have high incidence of cancers of the tongue and mouth. Cancer of the lips is also more prevalent with excessive sun exposure.
Tumors can look like sores on the tongue or big massive irregular tissue on the tongue. These tumors spread by local extension and through the destruction of different tissues such as: lymph nodes, cervical soft tissue, and oral cavity tissues.

How to Diagnosis Tongue Cancer?

Early diagnosis is the key to recovering and not dealing with great loss and side effects of this deadly disease. The earlier the tumor is found the more likely it can be removed and treatment can restore full function and normality. The longer a patient waits to seek treatment of tongue cancer the more likely it is for the cancer to be metastatic. Most tumors are usually found on the base of the tongue. These are the worst tumors to find because they are diagnosed at later stages usually on the tongue, which in turn means they are more likely to be deadly or have a not so good outcome which could involve losing parts of the tongue. Other than visibly looking at the tongue and any abnormalities on the tongue, it is important for other tests to be conducted. Another way for diagnosis is by running tests on blood and enzyme levels of the body. Abnormal liver function tests can also help verify cancer. Although in early investigations of tongue cancer some tests can come back normal.

Symptoms of Tongue Cancer

1.Red and white patches on the tongue, gums, and the lining of the mouth

2.Difficulty or pain in chewing or swallowing

3.Abnormal painful lump or bump on the tongue

4.Sore throat that does not go away

5.Pain in the ear

6.Change of voice

7.Unusual bleeding

8.Numbness in the mouth

How to treat carcinoma of the tongue

After the cancer has been diagnosed and staged for the patient then a proper treatment plan can be executed. Most lesions care biopsied, and then treated depending on how far along the cancer is. Most likely localized lesions that have not spread go through curative surgery to remove the lesions and/or radiation. Large lesions that can compromise speech and the ability to talk are usually treated with radiotherapy. All other advanced cases of this cancer that has or potentially spread are aggressively treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. If the cancer is diagnosed early the survival rate is extremely high.

Basically to prevent yourself from having tongue cancer you must reduce your risk factors… so you should quit smoking ( JUSTIN)… not chew tobacco, and not excessively drink because these habits all factor in to oral cancer in the mouth.