Tongue Cancer: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatments
Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that grows on the tongue cells. Tongue cancer most often grows and develops in squamous cells on the surface of the tongue.
Squamous cells are flat or flat cells like skin that lines the surface of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid, and throat. Tongue cancer most commonly attacks these squamous cells. Therefore, tongue cancer that starts from this cell is also called squamous cell cancer.
Anatomically, the human tongue consists of two parts, namely the front part which is located in the mouth and the base part near the throat. Tongue cancer can develop in both parts.
Cancer that grows on the front of the tongue is included in the category of oral cancer. While cancer that grows on the base of the tongue is included in oropharyngeal cancer.
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Alcohol and tobacco are thought to be the main cause of the emergence of tongue cancer because both have carcinogenic properties or easily spread cancer. Carcinogenic substances generally contain chemical elements that can damage DNA in cells and trigger cancer.
In addition, tongue cancer can also be diagnosed through staging and grading methods. The staging method used is the TNM system, which functions to measure how far the cancer has spread.
Cancer of the front tongue is more easily detected than cancer at the base of the tongue. Cancer on the front of the tongue will usually be diagnosed when the cancer is still small so it is easier to handle. While cancer at the base of the tongue tends to be detected at an advanced stage, when the cancer has enlarged and has even spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.
If the cancer has not spread widely outside the mouth and oropharynx, you have a greater chance of complete recovery. The surgical procedure is the best treatment step to treat small-sized tongue cancer. This step can be combined with radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy.
Whereas if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes in the neck, then your chances of being able to heal completely are very small. The main goal of this treatment is to inhibit cancer development and reduce symptoms.
If the size of the cancer on your tongue is large, you are likely to undergo surgical removal of part or all of the tongue. This large operation is called glossectomy.
After undergoing a glossectomy, the tongue will be reconstructed to replace the raised tongue. But a glossectomy procedure will affect your ability to speak and swallow permanently.
Besides removing cancer cells through glossectomy, lymph nodes in your neck may be removed. This process aims to prevent the return of cancer cells.
Tongue surgery will cause side effects, one of which causes you to have difficulty talking, eating, and drinking. Assistance from the medical team will be very useful to restore your condition so that you can do normal activities as usual.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy will also be applied to assist the prevention process. These two steps have side effects such as fatigue, dry mouth, mouth pain, mouth sores, and nausea. Examples of chemotherapy drugs commonly used are cisplatin , carbloplatin , and fluorouracil
Squamous cells are flat or flat cells like skin that lines the surface of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid, and throat. Tongue cancer most commonly attacks these squamous cells. Therefore, tongue cancer that starts from this cell is also called squamous cell cancer.
Anatomically, the human tongue consists of two parts, namely the front part which is located in the mouth and the base part near the throat. Tongue cancer can develop in both parts.
Cancer that grows on the front of the tongue is included in the category of oral cancer. While cancer that grows on the base of the tongue is included in oropharyngeal cancer.
Also Read : How to Deal the peeling Facial skin
Alcohol and tobacco are thought to be the main cause of the emergence of tongue cancer because both have carcinogenic properties or easily spread cancer. Carcinogenic substances generally contain chemical elements that can damage DNA in cells and trigger cancer.
Symptoms of tongue cancer
Symptoms that indicate tongue cancer include:- Throat pain that persists.
- Red or white patches, lumps, or mouth ulcers that don't heal.
- Pain when swallowing.
- Numbness in the mouth that does not go away.
- Unclear cause of bleeding on the tongue.
- Pain in the ear (rare).
Factors Trigger Tongue Cancer
The cause of tongue cancer is not known with certainty, but there are certain factors that are believed to trigger the appearance of this cancer. These risk factors include:- Cigarettes. About 85 percent of cancers in the head and neck region, including the tongue, are caused by tobacco consumption. In addition, passive smoking is also at a higher risk of contracting cancer in the head and neck.
- Liquors (alcohol) . Regular consumption of alcohol in relatively large amounts can also increase the risk of tongue cancer. Alcohol consumption when combined with smoking will increase a person's risk of contracting this cancer.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV ) . Although rare, the HPV virus can cause abnormal tissue growth in the mouth, causing cancer. Transmission of this virus can occur if you come into direct contact with the skin of an infected person or an object contaminated with the HPV virus or through sexual contact, such as intimate intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex.
- Low oral hygiene. Tongue cancer can also be associated with a wound in the mouth that does not heal. This wound can occur due to broken teeth that injure the inside of the mouth or canker sores that often appear and do not heal. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene and treat wounds that occur in the oral cavity as soon as possible. The results of a study by the Indonesian Ministry of Health showed that people with poor oral hygiene had a 2.3 times higher risk of developing oral cancer, including the tongue.
Tongue Cancer Diagnosis Process
Like other types of cancer, the detection of tongue cancer that is done as early as possible will increase your chances of recovery. The diagnosis process generally includes a physical examination and symptoms that you feel, and a biopsy of suspected tissue is cancer. If the results of a biopsy state that you are positive for oral cancer, your doctor will do further X-ray, MRI, Ultrasound, CT Scan or PET Scan.In addition, tongue cancer can also be diagnosed through staging and grading methods. The staging method used is the TNM system, which functions to measure how far the cancer has spread.
- T - describes the size of the tongue tumor. T1 is the smallest size, and T4 is the largest and deepest.
- N - describes the spread (metastases) in the region of the neck and lymph nodes. N0 means that there is no spread detected through examination or through scanning results, while N1, N2, and N3 indicate the spread of cancer to the neck and lymph glands.
- M - describes the spread (metastases) to other body parts.
Cancer of the front tongue is more easily detected than cancer at the base of the tongue. Cancer on the front of the tongue will usually be diagnosed when the cancer is still small so it is easier to handle. While cancer at the base of the tongue tends to be detected at an advanced stage, when the cancer has enlarged and has even spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.
Tongue Cancer Treatment Steps
Methods of handling tongue cancer generally include surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. The steps chosen depend on the type, location, and severity of the tongue cancer you desire.If the cancer has not spread widely outside the mouth and oropharynx, you have a greater chance of complete recovery. The surgical procedure is the best treatment step to treat small-sized tongue cancer. This step can be combined with radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy.
Whereas if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes in the neck, then your chances of being able to heal completely are very small. The main goal of this treatment is to inhibit cancer development and reduce symptoms.
If the size of the cancer on your tongue is large, you are likely to undergo surgical removal of part or all of the tongue. This large operation is called glossectomy.
After undergoing a glossectomy, the tongue will be reconstructed to replace the raised tongue. But a glossectomy procedure will affect your ability to speak and swallow permanently.
Besides removing cancer cells through glossectomy, lymph nodes in your neck may be removed. This process aims to prevent the return of cancer cells.
Tongue surgery will cause side effects, one of which causes you to have difficulty talking, eating, and drinking. Assistance from the medical team will be very useful to restore your condition so that you can do normal activities as usual.
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy will also be applied to assist the prevention process. These two steps have side effects such as fatigue, dry mouth, mouth pain, mouth sores, and nausea. Examples of chemotherapy drugs commonly used are cisplatin , carbloplatin , and fluorouracil