
Medication
life expectancy of a normal person at that age. In other words, there are few deaths from treated carcinoma of the tongue after 4 years from onset. Since the median life expectancy for a man of 60 is 12.5 years, and for one with carcinoma of the tongue only 17 months, at the median age the life
Procedures
- Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest.
- Weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason
- Eating problems such as not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting
- Swelling or lumps anywhere in the body
- Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body
Therapy
Tongue cancer is a serious and potentially deadly form of oral cancer. Tongue cancer or mouth cancer may start on the floor of the mouth, in the cells of the tongue, in the throat (at the base of the tongue) or anywhere in the mouth. The different types of tongue cancer may include. The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.More than 90 percent of mouth cancers are ...
Nutrition
Tongue cancer survival rate is about 50 percent. Overall, the tongue cancer survival rate is about 50 percent — slightly higher over five years and slightly lower over 10 years. As with many types of cancer, tongue cancer survival rates are highly dependent on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed.
What is the life expectancy of someone with tongue cancer?
How to tell if you have tongue cancer?
Is tongue cancer a 'bad' cancer?
What are the survival rates of tongue cancer?
See more

Is cancer of the tongue curable?
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.
What is the survival rate for tongue cancer?
Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed....Tongue.SEER Stage5-Year Relative Survival RateLocalized83%Regional69%Distant41%All SEER stages combined68%Mar 2, 2022
Does tongue cancer spread quickly?
Oral cancer lesions can be often asymptomatic until they are advanced, and the progression can occur rapidly.
What is the main cause of tongue cancer?
Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Symptoms can include a spot or lump on your tongue that doesn't go away. The main risk factors are smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol and infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV).
What is the treatment for Stage 1 tongue 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 first stage of tongue cancer?
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.
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.
How long can you live with untreated tongue cancer?
The Outlook For People With Untreated Oral Cancers The survival rate among people with early-stage untreated mouth cancer is around 30% for five years, whereas the rate gets reduced to 12% for people with Stage 4 untreated mouth cancer.
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.
Where does tongue cancer usually start?
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.
What happens if you have tongue cancer?
The tumor is often difficult to see in the early stages, so it is usually diagnosed when it is larger. There are few symptoms in the early stages. 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 do they test for tongue cancer?
A biopsy is the only way to know for sure that oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer is present. A sample of tissue or cells is always needed to confirm a cancer diagnosis before treatment is started. Several types of biopsies may be used, depending on each case.
What factors guide additional treatment?
Factors that will guide additional treatment include: Positive margins (the presence of cancer cells at the edge of the tissue that was resected). Spread of cancer beyond the lymph nodes in the neck (extranodal extension). T3 or T4 tumors based on pathologic evaluation. N2 or N3 disease in the neck lymph nodes.
What is the treatment for neck cancer?
The initial treatment is surgical removal of the cancer with neck dissection (s). Surgery will sometimes be followed by radiation, additional surgeries, and/or chemotherapy with radiation, depending on the outcome of the primary surgery.
What is the first treatment for tongue cancer?
Tongue cancers are commonly treated with a type of surgery called a glossectomy.
What is the extent of a tongue resection?
The extent and location of a tongue resection will determine the type of reconstruction required and will also allow the doctor to predict the impact that it will have on speech and swallowing. Patients and their care teams should discuss the types of surgeries that may be required for the treatment of their cancer.
How to treat tongue cancer?
In general, there are three different options for the treatment of tongue cancers that can be used alone or in combination. Surgery. Radiation.
Can you treat tongue cancer with radiation?
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is not commonly used to treat tongue cancer. In some cases, it is used in combination with radiation as additional treatment following surgery. Chemotherapy is usually only added to adjuvant radiation therapy if there is extranodal extension from cancerous lymph nodes in the neck, or if there is cancer left ...
Can you remove a tumor from your tongue?
If the tumor was not completely removed or if the surgical margins were positive for cancer. If the type of cancer was determined to be aggressive or of a high grade or T-stage. If the cancer had spread to lymph nodes or other structures, such as nerves or vessels. In some cases, complete surgical removal of a tongue cancer may be impossible ...
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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:
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 is the most common chemotherapy drug that is given into a vein?
Chemoradiation is when you have chemotherapy and radiotherapy together. Chemotherapy can make the cancer cells more sensitive to radiotherapy treatment. Cisplatin is the most common chemotherapy drug that is used with radiotherapy. It is given into a vein (intravenously).
What is tongue cancer?
About treatment for tongue cancer. Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Cancers affecting the head and neck are not common. People with this type of cancer are usually treated in specialist centres by a team of healthcare professionals. Your treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and whether the front or back ...
Why do we need chemotherapy after surgery?
Chemotherapy is also sometimes given after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Or you may have chemotherapy if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body or the cancer has come back in the head or neck. You may have a single chemotherapy drug or a combination of different ones.
How to treat a small stage of cancer?
You may have one or a combination of treatments. If you have a small, early-stage cancer, you may be treated with surgery or radiotherapy alone.
What is the procedure to remove a tumor on the front of the tongue?
This is called a partial glossectomy or total glossectomy. You may also need reconstructive surgery.
How does targeted therapy work?
Targeted therapy drugs work by targeting something in or around the cancer cell that is helping it grow and survive. They may only be available in some situations to treat tongue cancer. Some people may be given them as part of a clinical trial.
What is laser surgery?
Sometimes laser surgery might be used on small cancers. This type of surgery uses a laser light to destroy the cancer. Depending on where the cancer is on the tongue, surgery may also be used to treat more advanced cancers.
What does it mean when your mouth is white?
Close. Leukoplakia. Leukoplakia. Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Chemotherapy . Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be given alone, in combination with other chemotherapy drugs or in combination with other cancer treatments. Chemotherapy may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy, so the two are often combined.
What kind of doctor treats mouth cancer?
If your doctor or dentist feels you may have mouth cancer, you may be referred to a dentist who specializes in diseases of the gums and related tissue in the mouth (periodontist) or to a doctor who specializes in diseases that affect the ears, nose and throat (otolaryngologist).
How do targeted drugs treat mouth cancer?
Targeted drugs treat mouth cancer by altering specific aspects of cancer cells that fuel their growth. Targeted drugs can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
What is the procedure called when you have a sore on your lips?
Removal of tissue for testing (biopsy). If a suspicious area is found, your doctor or dentist may remove a sample of cells for laboratory testing in a procedure called a biopsy .
How to get rid of fatigue after cancer treatment?
Moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, during and after cancer treatment reduces fatigue. Talk to your doctor before you begin exercising, to make sure it's safe for you. Massage therapy. During a massage, a massage therapist uses his or her hands to apply pressure to your skin and muscles.
What is the best way to kill cancer cells?
Radiation therapy . Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is most often delivered from a machine outside of your body (external beam radiation), though it can also come from radioactive seeds and wires placed near your cancer (brachytherapy).
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.
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 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 is the cancer on the tongue?
Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of the tongue, and can cause lesions or tumors on your tongue. It’s a type of head and neck cancer.
Why do you need to remove lymph nodes in your neck?
Lymph nodes in the neck might be removed (called lymph node dissection) to check them for cancer spread. If it looks like surgery hasn't completely removed the cancer or if there is a high chance of it coming back, radiation alone or chemoradiation might be added. Radiation can be used instead of surgery as the main treatment for some people.
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 the treatment for stage IVC?
Stage IVC cancers are usually treated with chemo, cetuximab, or both . Immunotherapy, alone or with chemo, might be another option. Treatments such as radiation can also be used to help relieve symptoms from the cancer or to help prevent new problems.
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 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 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.
