More Than Just a Sore Tongue: Know Everything About Tongue Cancer

One thing that we all enjoy about our lives is relishing good food. Most of us are quite particular about our food habits because the satisfaction of taste buds helps the human body feel all the happy hormones.

But what if someday you wake up and find yourself lacking all the senses to taste anything? Forget about taste, what if you find yourself unable to feel your tongue due to severe swelling? Sounds like a nightmare, but this is possible in the case of Tongue Cancer.

According to GLOBOCAN, “in 2022, the estimated incidence rate for Oral Cancer in men was 14.7 per 100,000, while for women in India, it was 5.0”. Amongst all the types of oral cancer, tongue cancer is one of the rarest cancers.

As stated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), “Tongue cancer is relatively rare, representing nearly 1 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the United States”. Being quick to spread and infect other areas around, tongue cancer is supposed to be detected through early diagnosis. However, due to a lack of awareness among the masses, this disease gets detected only when it reaches an advanced level. So, if you want to save yourself or the people around you through the right awareness of Tongue cancer, keep reading till the end.

What is Tongue Cancer?

Tongue cancer is a type of oral cancer, in which a cancer cell grows on the tongue of the infected individual. Several types of cancer cells grow on the tongue cancer, and the most common amongst them is a thin and flat cell known as squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms of Tongue Cancer

• A persistent sore on the tongue that doesn’t heal
• Lump in mouth, tongue or neck
• Thickening or swelling of the tongue
• Having issues with chewing or swallowing food
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Numbness of tongue or mouth
• Numbness on tongue

Causes of Tongue Cancer

• Use of Tobacco or alcohol can increase the risk of tongue cancer
• Frequent use of Vape and smoking
• Any infection caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Genetic inheritance can also lead to tongue cancer

Prevention for Tongue Cancer

● Frequent check-ups with dentists
● Avoid frequent consumption of Cigarettes and alcohol
● Get HPV Vaccine if needed
● Practice good oral hygiene
● Maintain a good diet

Treatment Options for Tongue Cancer

Surgery: In most cases, tongue cancer is treated through surgery where a part or the entire tongue is removed through glossectomy. If required neck dissection is also performed to stop the cancer from spreading to the other parts of the body. If the patient wants, reconstructive surgery can be performed to rebuild the removed tongue.

Chemotherapy: In the procedure of Chemotherapy, strong medication such as anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs are used to kill the cancer cells present in the infected individual. This treatment can be opted for before or after the surgery as it helps in shrinking down or eliminating the left-behind cancer cells post surgery.

Radiation Therapy: In the process of radiation therapy, high-beam X-rays are used to kill the cancer cells. This procedure is also used before any surgery to lessen the effects of cancer cells. The most commonly used radiations are External beam radiation and Brachytherapy, which is performed under the supervision of professionals only.

Only Choose the Best for Your Health

Being ignorant about the early diagnosis of tongue cancer can lead to some severe repercussions. However, reaching out to an expert for some professional assistance can help. Dr. Piyusha Kul Shrestha is a qualified radiation oncologist in Delhi NCR, specializing in Cancer, Radiation Oncology, and Truebeam Linac. With 20+ years of experience in performing strenuous procedures such as IMRT, IGRT, SRT, SRS and CyberKnife surgeries, she is someone you can blindly rely on.