Tongue cancer is a cancer that grows and originates from the tongue tissue.This conditioncould marked by ulcer, the appearance of red or white patches on the tongue,and a sore throat that doesn't go away.
Tongue cancer develops from abnormal tongue tissue and grows abnormally, it can occur on the tip of the tongue or the base of the tongue. Tongue cancer is experienced by smokers and people who are addicted to alcoholic beverages. In addition, tongue cancer can also occur more easily in people who have been infected with the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus).
Tongue Cancer Symptoms
The main symptoms that appear in people with tongue cancer are the appearance of red or white patches on the tongue, and canker sores that do not go away after a few weeks. Other symptoms of tongue cancer that can appear are:
- Persistent sore throat and pain when swallowing.
- A lump appears in the mouth and neck area, due to swollen lymph nodes.
- Numbness in the mouth that does not go away.
- Bleeding on the tongue for no apparent reason.
- Difficulty moving the jaw.
- Drastic weight loss.
- Changes in voice and speech.
When to go to the doctor
Sometimes sufferers do not realize that the complaints they are experiencing are symptoms of tongue cancer. This abnormality is generally only discovered by a dentist during a routine examination or dental examination due to other problems.
Therefore, it is recommended that you undergo regular check-ups with the dentist every 3 months to every 2 years, depending on the condition of your dental and oral health. Regular visits to the dentist are also important because tongue cancer is more likely to occur in someone whose oral health is not maintained.
Complaints that are considered harmless, such as canker sores or sore throat, can be a sign of tongue cancer. Immediately consult a doctor if these symptoms last more than three weeks, especially if you are a smoker or drink alcohol frequently.
Causes of Tongue Cancer
Tongue cancer occurs due to changes or genetic mutations in the cells of the tongue tissue. This genetic mutation causes cells to grow abnormally and uncontrollably, and become cancer cells. However, the exact cause of this genetic mutation is not known.
Men over 50 years old whose family members suffer from tongue cancer are more at risk of suffering from this tongue disease. In addition, the following factors can also increase the risk of tongue cancer:
- SmokeThe habit of smoking or consuming tobacco, although not in the form of cigarettes, can increase the risk of tongue cancer due to exposure to cancer-causing (carcinogenic) substances contained in tobacco.
- Consumption of liquor (alcohol)People who frequently drink large amounts of alcohol are more at risk of developing tongue cancer.
- Infection Human papillomavirus (HPV)Although rare, HPV can cause abnormal tissue growth in the mouth, thereby triggering cancer. HPV infection in the mouth can be spread through oral sex.
- Poor oral healthTongue cancer can also be associated with uneven, rough, and jagged teeth, and improperly shaped dentures.
- Unhealthy dietEating less fruits and vegetables or having an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of tongue cancer.
Tongue Cancer Diagnosis
The stage of diagnosing tongue cancer begins with asking the patient's complaints and medical history, for example, whether he has ever had an HPV infection or not. The doctor will also ask whether any of the patient's family members have had tongue cancer or not, and whether the patient has a habit of smoking or drinking alcohol.
After that, the doctor will examine the condition of the patient's mouth and tongue. If there is a suspicion of cancer, the doctor will refer the patient to an oncologist. The oncologist may then perform further examinations in the form of:
- Tongue biopsyIn this procedure, the doctor will take a sample of tongue tissue for examination in the laboratory. The patient will usually be given a local anesthetic during this biopsy.
- Endoscopic examinationIf tongue cancer is suspected at the base of the tongue, the doctor will perform an endoscopy. Endoscopic examination can simultaneously take samples of tongue tissue and lymph nodes around the tongue.
- ScanScans are carried out to see the condition of the mouth and tongue, and determine the spread of cancer. The scan can be done with a CT scan or MRI.
- HPV testThe HPV test is done to check whether the patient is positive for HPV infection which can cause tongue cancer.
Tongue Cancer Stage
Based on the severity and extent of spread of cancer cells, tongue cancer can be divided into four stages, namely:
- Stage 1Cancer has started to grow, but the diameter of the cancer has not exceeded 2 cm and has not spread to the surrounding tissue. Stage 1 can be called the early stage of tongue cancer.
- Stage 2Cancer has reached a diameter of about 2-4 cm, but has not spread to the surrounding tissue.
- Stage 3The diameter of the cancer is more than 4 cm and has spread to the surrounding tissue, including to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage 4Cancer has spread to the tissues around the mouth and lips, or even to other distant organs, such as the lungs and liver.
Cancer at the tip of the tongue is easier to detect 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 treat.
Cancer that appears at the base of the tongue tends to be detected at an advanced stage, when the cancer has grown and has even spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.
Tongue Cancer Treatment
Tongue cancer treatment methods depend on the location and stage of the cancer. If needed, the doctor will combine several types of treatment for maximum results. Treatment methods that doctors can use to treat tongue cancer are:
Operation
In small cancers or in early stages, surgery is performed by removing the cancerous tissue and the surrounding tissue. But in cancer that has entered the final stage, the operation performed is surgery to cut the tongue or glossectomy.
Tongue with advanced cancer will be excised, either partially or completely. After a glossectomy, patients may have difficulty eating, swallowing, and speaking. Therefore, the doctor may recommend reconstructive surgery to correct the shape of the cut tongue.
Reconstructive surgery is performed by taking some of the skin tissue and then grafting the tissue onto the tongue that has been cut. After reconstructive surgery, the patient can also undergo therapy to help him eat and talk, as well as to overcome psychological problems due to difficulty eating and talking.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is cancer treatment with drugs that work to kill cancer cells. In addition, chemotherapy can also be done to relieve cancer symptoms.
For maximum results, chemotherapy is often combined with surgery or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy combined with surgery serves to shrink the cancer before it is surgically removed or to eradicate the cancer cells that remain after surgery.
Chemotherapy is also done to treat tongue cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other organs, and is usually combined with radiotherapy. Several types of drugs used for chemotherapy are: cisplatin, fluorouracil, bleomycin, methhotrexate, carboplatin, and docetaxel.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is cancer treatment using high-energy rays. The light used for radiotherapy can come from a special machine outside the patient's body (external radiation) or a device that is placed inside the patient's body near the cancer site (internal radiation).
Radiotherapy can be used to treat cancer that is difficult to treat, shrink the size of the cancer before surgery, or kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Radiotherapy can also relieve the symptoms of tongue cancer, especially in people with advanced tongue cancer.
Tongue Cancer Prevention
Tongue cancer can be prevented by avoiding the risk factors that trigger it. Some steps that can be taken are:
- Quit smoking or consuming tobacco.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Maintain dental and oral hygiene, and visit the dentist regularly.
- Get the HPV vaccine.
- Have safe sex, that is, do not change partners and use condoms.
- Eat vegetables and fruit.