Medication
Approaches used during tongue cancer surgery may include: Transoral surgery. At Mayo Clinic, surgeons remove most tongue cancer through the mouth (transoral surgery). To remove the cancer, doctors may use cutting tools or lasers during surgery. Transoral robotic surgery.
Procedures
If the cancer has only spread locally (for example, to lymph nodes in the neck), the relative survival rate is 63 percent. If the cancer has not spread beyond the tongue, the five-year relative survival rate is 78 percent. As these survival rates show, earlier diagnosis leads to better outcomes.
Therapy
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.
Nutrition
In later stages, the cancer may cause pain, a sense of fullness in the throat, difficulty swallowing, the feeling of a lump in the neck or throat, voice changes or ear pain. How is tongue cancer diagnosed? To make a diagnosis, the doctor will take a medical history and ask specific questions about symptoms.
How is tongue cancer treated?
What is the survival rate of tongue cancer?
What is tongue cancer reconstruction surgery?
What does tongue cancer feel like in later stages?
How long is chemo for tongue cancer?
Adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemo is often given for a total of 3 to 6 months, depending on the drugs used. The length of treatment depends on how well it is working and what side effects you might have.
How long do you stay in the hospital for tongue cancer?
Most people can go home a few days after surgery for oral cancer. If needed, you'll be taught how to take care of any dressings, tubes, or drains before you go home. It will most likely take you several weeks to feel better. Once you've left the hospital, you'll likely still need some special care as you recover.
Is tongue cancer easy to treat?
Tongue cancer is highly curable when it is detected early, but it can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. Over time, it may spread to other sites in the mouth, other areas of the head and neck, or other parts of the body.
Can tongue cancer be fixed?
People can get cancer in the oral tongue — the part you can stick out — and the base of the tongue, which extends down the throat. The cancer is more common in people 40 and older. Tongue cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
How painful is tongue surgery?
Pain: While there is a significant amount of individual variability on pain perception, tongue base surgeries have as the main issue a significant amount of post-operative pain.
How do they remove tongue cancer?
At Mayo Clinic, surgeons remove most tongue cancer through the mouth (transoral surgery). To remove the cancer, doctors may use cutting tools or lasers during surgery. Transoral robotic surgery.
Does tongue cancer spread fast?
Cancer of the mouth is considered to spread at a moderate rate, not being categorized among either the slowest-spreading cancers or the fastest-spreading types.
How long does it take to recover from tongue cancer surgery?
Most people can go home within several days after surgery for oral cancer. It will most likely take you a few weeks to feel better. Once you've left the hospital, you'll probably still need some special care as you recover from surgery.
How painful is tongue cancer?
The primary symptoms of tongue cancer are a painful tongue and the development of a sore on the tongue. Additional symptoms may include: pain in the jaw or throat. pain when swallowing.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for tongue cancer?
Nevertheless, radiotherapy remains important in managing tongue carcinoma, owing to its better functional and aesthetic results. The data for this group suggested that the 5-year survival rate was 52.5% among patients treated only by surgery, and 56.0% among patients who had received both radiotherapy and surgery.
Can you talk without a tongue?
But, with a lot of practice, anything is possible. Talking without a tongue is possible. For Cynthia Zamora, simply being able to talk is nothing short of miraculous. Three years ago, doctors found a tumor that covered more than half her tongue.
Can a person live without a tongue?
Despite being born without a tongue, I can speak and swallow and taste just like anyone else. I have the base of the tongue and the muscle on the floor of my mouth, which I can move up and down, but other than that, there's nothing there at all. Not all people with this condition are lucky enough to be able to talk.
What is the survival rate for tongue cancer?
The five-year relative survival rate for tongue cancer (which compares the survival of people with cancer with the expected survival rate for people without cancer) depends on the stage of the cancer. If the cancer has spread far, the five-year relative survival rate is 36 percent.
How to reduce the risk of tongue cancer?
To reduce your risk: don’t smoke or chew tobacco. don’t drink, or drink only occasionally. don’t chew betel.
What type of biopsy is done for tongue cancer?
If your doctor sees any signs of tongue cancer, they’ll do a biopsy of the area of suspected cancer. An incisional biopsy is the most frequently used type of biopsy. In this type of biopsy, your doctor will remove a small piece of the suspected cancer. This is usually done under local anesthesia in your doctor’s office.
How is tongue cancer classified?
Tongue cancer is classified using stages and grades. The stage indicates how far the cancer has spread. Each stage has three potential classifications: T refers to the size of the tumor. A small tumor is T1 and a large tumor is T4. N refers to whether or not the cancer has spread to neck lymph nodes. N0 means the cancer has not spread, ...
What is the most common type of cancer in the mouth?
Or it may occur at the base of the tongue, near where it attaches to the bottom of your mouth. This is called “oropharyngeal cancer.”. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of tongue cancer. This type of cancer occurs: All of these parts of the body are covered in squamous cells.
How do you know if you have cancer on your tongue?
The most common early symptom of tongue cancer is a sore on your ton gue 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.
What happens if you have a tumor in your tongue?
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.
What to do if you have cancer on your tongue?
If the cancer is on the back of your tongue, you may have radiation therapy (X-rays and other radiation). Sometimes the best treatment is a combination of chemotherapy, or cancer-fighting drugs, and radiation. You might need therapy afterward to help you chew, move your tongue, swallow, and speak better.
How to remove tumor from tongue?
Surgery is often the best way to remove a tumor from the part of your tongue you can see. Your doctor will probably take out some healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes as well, to make sure all the cancer is gone. If the cancer is on the back of your tongue, you may have radiation therapy (X-rays and other radiation).
What is it called when you have a tongue that sticks out?
One is called oral tongue cancer because it affects the part you can stick out. The other happens at the base of your tongue, where it connects to your throat. This type, called oropharyngeal cancer, is often diagnosed after it has spread to the lymph nodes in your neck.
How do you know if you have cancer on your tongue?
Symptoms. One of the first signs of tongue cancer is a lump or sore on the side of your tongue that doesn’t go away. It may be pinkish-red in color. Sometimes the sore will bleed if you touch or bite it. You may also have: Pain in or near your tongue. Changes in your voice, like sounding hoarse. Trouble swallowing.
What causes cancer on the base of the tongue?
Causes. The human papillomavirus ( HPV) can cause cancers on the base of the tongue. HPV also can infect your genital area and cause cervical cancer, penile cancer, and anal cancer. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are many types of HPV.
Why is it called oral tongue cancer?
Treatment. Prevention. This is one of several kinds of oral ( mouth) cancers. Like other cancers, it happens when cells divide out of control and form a growth, or tumor. There are two types. One is called oral tongue cancer because it affects the part you can stick out.
What happens if you have a sore on your tongue?
You may also have: Pain in or near your tongue. Changes in your voice, like sounding hoarse. Trouble swallowing. If you have a sore on your tongue or in your mouth that doesn’t get better in a couple of weeks, see your doctor. If the problem is at the base of your tongue, you may not notice any symptoms.
How to treat tongue cancer?
Treatment for tongue cancer typically involves surgery to remove the cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy also may be recommended. Treatment for advanced tongue cancers can impact your ability to speak and eat. Working with a skilled rehabilitation team can help you cope with changes that result from tongue cancer ...
Where does tongue cancer occur?
Tongue cancer can occur: In the mouth, where it may be more likely to be seen and felt (oral tongue cancer). This type of tongue cancer tends to be diagnosed when the cancer is small and more easily removed through surgery. In the throat, at the base of the tongue, where tongue cancer may develop with few signs and symptoms ...
What type of cancer is on the tongue?
Several types of cancer can affect the tongue, but tongue cancer most often begins in the thin, flat squamous cells that line the surface of the tongue. The type of cells involved in your tongue cancer helps determine your prognosis and treatment. Where your tongue cancer occurs also affects your treatment. Tongue cancer can occur:
What is the cancer at the base of the tongue?
Cancer at the base of the tongue is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the tumor is larger and the cancer has spread into the lymph nodes in the neck. Increasingly, cancers at the base of the tongue are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), which has a profound effect on the prognosis and treatment of the cancer.
What is the treatment for stage 1 oral cancer?
Stages I and II oral cavity cancer. Most patients with stage I or II oral cavity cancers do well when treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy (chemo) given along with radiation (called chemoradiation) is another option. Both surgery and radiation work equally well in treating these cancers.
What is the best treatment for lip cancer?
Radiation alone may also be used as the first treatment. Large or deep cancers often require surgery. If needed, reconstructive surgery can help correct the defect in the lip.
What happens if a tumor is thick?
If the tumor is thick, it increases the possibility that the cancer might have spread to lymph nodes in the neck. If abnormal lymph nodes are felt or seen on an imaging test, the surgeon might remove them (called lymph node dissection) so they can be checked for cancer spread.
What is stage 0 cancer?
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) oral cavity cancer. Although cancer in this stage is on the surface layer and has not started to grow into deeper layers of tissue, it can do so if not treated. The usual treatment is surgery (usually Mohs surgery, surgical stripping, or thin resection) to remove the top layers of tissue along with a small margin (edge) ...
Where is cancer in the mouth?
These cancers in the floor of the mouth, front of the tongue, inside of the cheek, gums, and hard palate include bigger cancers, those that have grown into nearby tissues, and/or those that have spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck.
Can IVB cancer be removed?
Stage IVC cancers have spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs. People with stage IVB cancers that cannot be removed by surgery or who are too weak for surgery might be treated with radiation alone.
Can recurrent cancer be treated?
Treatment options for recurrent cancers depend on the location and size of the cancer, what treatments have already been used, and the person’s general health. Because these cancers can be hard to treat, clinical trials of newer treatments may be a good option for some people.
How to treat cancer of the tongue?
Treatment for tongue cancer may include: Surgery. Surgery may be used to remove part of the tongue or lymph nodes in the neck. Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells. It can be used on its own, but is often given in combination with chemotherapy. This is called chemoradiation.
What to do after tongue cancer treatment?
After tongue cancer treatment. You have regular follow-up appointments after treatment. These may continue for several years. You may also have regular follow-up appointments with a speech and language therapist (SLT), dietitian, restorative dentist and dental hygienist.
What is the cancer of the back of the tongue called?
The back part is the base of the tongue, which is very close to the throat. Cancer that develops in this part of the tongue is called oropharyngeal cancer .
How to contact Macmillan about head and neck cancer?
Macmillan is also here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can: Call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00. Chat to our specialists online. Visit our head and neck cancer forum to talk with people who have been affected by head and neck cancer, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.
How does chemotherapy help tongue cancer?
Chemotherapy can make the cancer cells more sensitive to radiotherapy treatment . Targeted therapies. Targeted therapy drugs work by targeting something in or around the cancer cell that is helping it grow and survive. We have more information about: how different treatments are used to treat tongue cancer.
What tests can be done to find out if you have cancer of your tongue?
If tongue cancer is diagnosed, your doctor may want to do some further tests to find out more about the cancer. These tests may include: CT scan. A CT scan takes a series of x-rays, which build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of your body. MRI scan.
How does a doctor determine the grade of cancer?
A doctor decides the grade of the cancer by how the cancer cells look under the microscope. This gives an idea of how quickly the cancer might grow or spread. Knowing the stage and grade helps your doctors plan the best treatment for you.
How to diagnose tongue cancer?
Tongue cancer usually requires a biopsy, a small sample of tissue that is removed from a tumor to diagnose cancer. After the surgeon removes the tissue, a pathologist will examine the cells under a microscope. There are different methods to obtain a biopsy: Fine needle aspiration biopsy. A thin needle is inserted into the tumor mass ...
What is the cancer of the tongue called?
Cancer of the oral tongue. The front two-thirds of the tongue that you can stick out is called the oral tongue. Cancer of the base of the tongue. The base is the back one-third of the tongue that extends down the throat.
Why is the base of the tongue bigger?
Tumors on the base of the tongue are usually larger when diagnosed because in the early stages the tumor is difficult to see. The only early symptom is ear pain. Voice changes and difficult swallowing occur later. Because base of the tongue cancer is diagnosed later, the cancer may have already spread to the neck.
What is the lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth?
Oral Tongue Cancer. A lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth. The lump often looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red. The lump bleeds easily if bitten or touched.
How to treat small oral tumors?
Surgery. Oral Tongue. Surgical removal of the primary tumor might be the only treatment needed for small oral tongue cancers. If the tumor is large, it may have spread to lymph nodes in the neck. When this occurs the surgeon may recommend removal of the affected lymph nodes in the neck.
What is the most common type of cancer in the tongue?
What is tongue cancer? Several types of cancer grow in the tongue, but squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that line the mouth and other organs. There are two types of tongue cancer: Cancer of the oral tongue. The front two-thirds of the tongue that you can stick out is called the oral tongue.
How does radiation therapy help cancer?
Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy, including intensity modulated radiation therapy, stops cancer cells from dividing and slows the growth of the tumor. Radiotherapy also destroys cancer cells and can shrink or eliminate tumors.
What is the best treatment for cancer of the tongue?
The extent and depth of the cancer guides your plan of care. Surgery is the most common treatment for cancers of the tongue. If the cancer is more advanced, radiation, chemotherapy, or both may be used to shrink the tumor before or after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
What is the first step in the diagnosis of tongue cancer?
A biopsy is the first step in the diagnosis of tongue cancer. During a biopsy, a small amount of tissue is taken from the part of the tongue where cancer is suspected. The tissue is sent to a pathologist, who examines it under a microscope and helps to make the diagnosis.
How to tell if you have cancer on your tongue?
The symptoms of tongue cancer may include the following: 1 red, white, or dark patches on the tongue 2 a sore throat that does not go away 3 a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that does not go away 4 pain when swallowing 5 mouth numbness 6 bleeding from the tongue
What is the name of the surgery used to remove cancers of the tongue?
Tongue Cancer Surgery. Glossectomy is the name of the surgery used to remove cancers of the tongue. For smaller cancers, only part of the tongue may need to be removed ( partial glossectomy ). For larger cancers, a more substantial portion of the tongue may need to be taken out.
What is the name of the cancer that starts when the cells that make up the tongue grow out of control?
Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that begins when the cells that make up the tongue grow out of control and form lesions or tumors. There are two parts to your tongue, the oral tongue and the base of the tongue. Cancer can develop in either part. The oral tongue is the part you see when you stick out your tongue.
How does radiation therapy help with cancer of the tongue?
When the particles reach the tumor, they destroy the cancer cells by damaging their DNA. The radiation therapy team at Memorial Sloan Kettering is highly experienced in caring for people with tongue cancer.
What is the cancer on Jessica Tar's tongue?
Video Details. Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that begins when the cells ...
How does chemotherapy help with tongue cancer?
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used along with radiation therapy to treat locally advanced tongue cancer. For tongue cancer that has recurred or has spread to other areas of the body, chemotherapy may be recommended to slow the growth of the cancer.
How do they remove cancer from the base of the tongue?
At Mayo Clinic, surgeons remove most tongue cancer through the mouth (transoral surgery). To remove the cancer, doctors may use cutting tools or lasers during surgery. Transoral robotic surgery. Head and neck surgeons offer transoral robotic surgery, which provides more-precise access to cancers at the base of the tongue.
What is the Mayo Clinic for tongue cancer?
Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeons have extensive experience treating tongue cancer. Surgeons often partner with pathologists, who analyze tissue during surgery to make sure all of the cancer has been removed.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy uses high-powered beams of energy, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be an option for early or advanced tongue cancer. Mayo Clinic radiation oncologists have access to the most advanced radiation therapy treatments, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, ...
What is the best treatment for a tumor on the face?
Reconstructive surgery. People with advanced tumors who experience face, jaw or neck disfigurement after tumor removal may need reconstructive surgery. Head and neck surgeons work with surgeons in plastic and reconstructive surgery to restore the appearance of the face, jaw or neck and use of the mouth.
What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy drugs alter specific aspects of cancer cells that fuel their growth. These drugs can interrupt the spread and growth of specific tongue cancer cells. Targeted therapy is often used in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Can you eat tube feeding if you have cancer?
If cancer or treatment makes it difficult for you to eat enough to get all the nutrients you need, your doctor may recommend tube feeding ( enteral nutrition ). The Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic can help people who want to stop using tobacco.
Why did I need surgery for my tongue?
Part of the reason I needed surgery was because my cancer was on the anterior [front] tongue. Strangely enough, tumors at the base of the tongue can sometimes respond better to chemo and radiation. It all depends on your pathology and the stage of cancer.
How old was Kate Brown when she had a tongue cancer?
Kate Brown was just 32 years old, recently married and beginning a new job, when she learned that a spot on her tongue was stage III tongue cancer. Brown was referred to UCSF Medical Center, where surgeons recommended a drastic treatment that was her best shot at survival: a total glossectomy, or tongue removal, ...
