Tongue Cancer
Tongue
Cancer:
Tongue cancer is a malignant tumor that
begins as a small lump, a firm white patch, or an ulcer. If
untreated, the tumor may spread throughout the mouth and to the rest of
the body. As a tumor
grows, it becomes more life-threatening. Benign (noncancerous) tumors can
also grow anywhere in
your mouth. Tongue cancer is one of the more common and serious types of
mouth cancer.
Although the exact cause is unknown, it most often occurs among pipe,
cigar, and cigarette
smokers and people who use smokeless tobacco. It also occurs in people who
consume large
amounts of alcohol and among denture wearers. It is rare in people under
age 40, particularly
women. It is most common in men over age 60. Tongue cancer begins as a
small lump or thick
white patch. Over time this lump turns into an ulcer that has a firm,
raised rim and a delicate
center that bleeds easily. If the tumor is not treated, it can spread to
the gums, lower jaw, lymph
nodes, neck, and floor of the mouth, eroding healthy tissues in these
areas. The tongue becomes
rigid and immobile if the tumor grows large enough. Eventually, the tumor
may block the throat,
making swallowing and breathing difficult. If tongue cancer is diagnosed
at an early stage, about
80% of people can be cured completely.
Causes
of Tongue Cancer:
Eighty
percent of these cancers are related to tobacco use, either by smoking or
chewing.
Persons chewing the betel leaf (paan) are also at increased risk. Alcohol
by itself may not cause
these cancers, but it aggravates the effects of tobacco in causing cancer.
Repeated irritation of
the mouth from sharp edges of broken teeth or from poorly fitting dentures
may also cause oral
cancers. Some diseases such as leukoplakia (white patches in the lining of
the mouth) and oral
submucous fibrosis predispose to the occurrence of oral cancers.
Symptoms of Tongue Cancer:
Oral cancers are more common in males. The symptoms due to these cancers
include non-healing
ulcers in the oral cavity, bleeding from the mouth, increasing swelling in
or around the mouth,
white or red patches in the mouth, difficulty or pain during swallowing, a
change in voice or
hoarseness, and difficulty in breathing.
|
