Tongue Cancer

Tongue Cancer is an article that aims to give you all the information you do not know about tongue cancer and more. We kindly shared the main headings with you;

One kind of cancer that begins as a cell growth on the tongue is tongue cancer. The tongue extends into the mouth from its starting point in the throat. It is composed of nerves and muscles that support movement and bodily functions like taste. Speaking, eating, and swallowing are made easier by the tongue.

There is a difference between tongue cancer which begins in the throat and tongue cancer which begins in the mouth.

• Oral tongue cancer refers to tongue cancer that occurs in the mouth. Symptoms of tongue cancer in the mouth can appear immediately. Because this portion of the tongue is easily visible and examineable, a physician, dentist, or other member of your healthcare team may discover it first.
• Oropharyngeal tongue cancer refers to tongue cancer that affects the throat. It could take some time for it to start showing symptoms. When symptoms appear, they typically have a wide range of potential reasons. Your healthcare team may initially look for non-cancer explanations if you experience earache or a sore throat. Cervical cancer is difficult to detect and evaluate. These factors contribute to the cancer’s delayed diagnosis. It is frequently discovered after the cancer cells have moved to the neck lymph nodes.

The risk of tongue cancer can be raised by several variables. The development of malignant alterations in the tongue’s cells or the tissues around them may be facilitated by these risk factors. The following are a few typical risk factors for tongue cancer,

• Tobacco Use: The risk of tongue cancer is greatly increased by smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco (such as snuff or chewing tobacco). The carcinogens in tobacco can harm oral and tongue cells, resulting in malignant alterations.
• Alcohol Use: Drinking alcohol excessively and continuously increases the risk of tongue cancer. Alcohol can irritate and harm oral and tongue cells, increasing their vulnerability to cancer. Human
• Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection: A higher risk of tongue and oropharyngeal malignancies has been linked to HPV infection, specifically with strain 16 of the virus. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can affect the mouth and throat tissues, resulting in aberrant cellular alterations and perhaps malignant development.
• Bad Oral Hygiene: The risk of tongue cancer might be increased by long-term poor oral hygiene and dental health habits. Maintaining good dental hygiene lowers the chance of infections as well as the possibility of long-term tongue and oral tissue irritation.
• Age and Gender: Between the ages of 40 and 70, older people are more likely to develop tongue cancer. Males are more likely than females to develop tongue cancer.
• Sun Exposure: Prolonged sun exposure on the lips, especially in the absence of protection (such as lip balm or sunscreen), might raise the risk of lip cancer, which can spread to the tongue.
• Genetic Factors: Although less prevalent, a family history of certain types of malignancies or a genetic predisposition may raise the risk of developing tongue cancer.

Initially, tongue cancer may not show any signs. Occasionally, it is discovered during a routine examination by a physician or dentist who checks the mouth for cancerous growths. An unhealing tongue sore is frequently the initial symptom of tongue cancer in the mouth. Additional signs and symptoms could be a mass or thickening on the tongue, as well as pain or bleeding in the mouth.

The general symptoms include,

• Persistent mouth or tongue pain: Continuous pain or discomfort in the mouth or on the tongue that doesn’t go away over time is known as persistent mouth or tongue pain.
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing): Pain or difficulty swallowing, particularly when eating or drinking, which may be brought on by a tumor in the throat or tongue.
• Hoarseness in voice: Phonological or speech abnormalities include hoarseness, voice quality abnormalities, or trouble pronouncing words or sounds that stick around for no apparent reason.
• Mouth Sores or Ulcers: Non-healing sores or ulcers on the gums, tongue, or inside the mouth that do not go better with therapy or good dental care.
• Persistent Sore Throat: An ongoing sore throat that does not go away even after taking antibiotics or other treatments.
• Lump or Swelling in the Mouth: A lump or swelling that develops over time or that remains on the tongue or inside the mouth.
• Red or White Patches: The emergence of distinctive discolorations that do not go away on the tongue or in the mouth, such as red or white patches.
• Tingling or Numbness: Tingling, numbness, or loss of feeling in the mouth or on the tongue.
• Inability to Move the Tongue: Inability to move the tongue can interfere with speaking and swallowing, two common tongue functions.
• Ear Pain: Pain in one or both ears that may be associated with the oral cavity or tongue.

It’s best to speak with a healthcare provider for a full evaluation and diagnosis if any of these symptoms are worrisome or persistent. The prognosis of treatment for tongue cancer and other oral health issues can be greatly impacted by early detection and timely medical response. For general oral health, getting regular dental exams and practicing proper oral hygiene are also crucial.

Tongue cancer is diagnosed with the use of several tests and procedures. The ones that work best for you will depend on your symptoms and medical background. Examining the lips and throat is one test for tongue cancer.

Testing for tongue cancer may include,

• Mouth and throat examination: A member of your healthcare team examines your mouth, throat, and neck during a physical examination. That person looks for enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and any lumps on the tongue.
• Examining the throat and mouth with a small camera: An endoscopy is a test that involves a narrow tube equipped with a light and camera. The tube is passed down to the esophagus after being placed into the nose. It searches for indications of tongue cancer in the throat and mouth. It can also be used to examine other areas of the neck, like the voice box, to see whether the cancer has spread.
• Taking a sample of tissue for analysis: This procedure, known as a biopsy, requires removing a sample of tongue cells. Biopsy methods come in various varieties. Cutting off a portion of the questionable tissue or the complete region will yield a sample. In a different kind of biopsy, a tiny needle is used to take a sample of cells right from the problematic spot. For testing, the samples are transported to a lab. Tests in the laboratory can determine whether the cells are malignant. Additional tests provide more details about the cancer cells, including whether or not they exhibit HPV symptoms.
• Imaging tests: Imaging tests take images of the human body. The images can display cancer’s location and size. Imaging techniques such as CT, MRI, and PET (positron emission tomography) scans may be used to diagnose tongue cancer.

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Following surgery, patients with tongue cancer may receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both types of treatment. When developing a treatment plan, your healthcare team takes several things into account. These could include the location and growth rate of the malignancy. The results of tests performed on the cancer cells and whether the disease has migrated to other areas of your body may also be examined by the team. Your age and general health are taken into account by your care team as well.

Surgery

The most typical course of treatment for tongue cancer is surgery. The following procedures are used to treat tongue cancer:

• Surgery to remove the tongue entirely or partially. A glossectomy is the term for this procedure. The malignancy and a margin—a portion of the surrounding healthy cells—are removed by the surgeon. Eliminating the margin contributes to the removal of all cancer cells. The surgeon’s decision regarding the extent of tongue removal is based on the cancer’s size. The tongue may be removed whole or in part during the procedure. Sometimes speech and swallowing difficulties result from surgery. The extent of tongue removal determines this. Rehabilitation and physical therapy can help with these problems.
• Neck surgery to remove lymph nodes. The lymph nodes in the neck are frequently the first places tongue cancer travels to. You may require surgery known as a neck dissection to remove some lymph nodes if there are indications that the cancer has spread to them. You might have some of the lymph nodes removed as a precaution, even if there are no indications of malignancy in them. Your medical team can determine whether you require additional therapies after removing the lymph nodes, which also eliminates the malignancy.
• Surgery for reconstruction. If during surgery portions of the face, jaw, or neck are removed, reconstructive surgery can be required. To cover up the spaces left by the cancer, healthy bone or tissue can be removed from other areas of the body. A portion of the lip, tongue, palate, jaw, cheek, throat, or skin can be replaced by this tissue. Reconstruction, if necessary, is typically carried out concurrently with cancer removal surgery to replace missing tongue portions.

 

Radiation Treatment

Strong energy beams are used in radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells. Protons, X-rays, and other sources are possible sources of energy. Radiation therapy involves directing energy beams from a machine to target certain body parts to destroy cancer cells there.

 

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells using potent medications. Before surgery, chemotherapy may be administered to regulate the cell’s proliferation. It can also be used to eliminate any leftover cells following surgery. Because chemotherapy improves the effectiveness of radiation therapy, it is sometimes administered concurrently with it.

 

Targeted Therapy

Utilizing medications that target particular molecules in cancer cells is known as targeted therapy. Targeted therapies can kill cancer cells by preventing these substances from functioning. Treatment for tongue cancer that spreads or recurs is targeted therapy.

 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a medical treatment that stimulates the immune system to eradicate cancerous cells from the body. Your immune system targets bacteria and other foreign cells in your body to prevent illness. Cancer cells evade the immune system to survive. Immunotherapy aids in the immune system’s ability to identify and eliminate cancerous cells. When all other therapies have failed and the cancer is advanced, immunotherapy may be utilized.

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• High-quality Medical Facilities: Turkey has made considerable investments in its medical facilities, which include contemporary clinics and hospitals with cutting-edge equipment for cancer detection, treatment, and surgery.
• Skilled Healthcare Workers: The nation is home to several highly qualified and experienced medical workers, such as radiologists, surgeons, otolaryngologists (specialists in the ears, nose, and throat), and oncologists, who provide high-quality care by worldwide standards.
• Advanced Cancer Treatment Choices: Turkish medical facilities frequently offer a broad range of advanced cancer treatment choices, such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. They might also take part in clinical studies and use cutting-edge methods of cancer treatment.
• Affordability: Medical care in Turkey may be more affordable than in certain Western nations, providing high-quality care at a comparatively cheaper cost. This may appeal to people looking for treatment options that are within their means.

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