This cancer may occur on the side of the tongue, close to your teeth. People who smoke and drink alcohol are more likely to develop this condition. Regular mouth and tongue checkups are important for these people. Doctors and dentists can examine your mouth and tongue. There are several stages of tongue cancer, which are determined by its size and spread.
Stage 1 is characterized by a small tumor that has not spread. Stage two or three indicates a tumor that has grown into other tissues in the mouth. The tumor is either a T1 or T3, and may be categorized as low, medium, or high-grade. The tumor can be small, or it can be as large as four centimeters in diameter. Its growth rate is slow, and it may not spread very far.
The prognosis for tongue cancer depends on the stage and extent of disease and the quality of the treatment. In stage one cancer, 83.7 percent of patients will survive for five years. Stage two cancer will cause more than one tumor, and the patient’s life expectancy will decline. However, survivors will live for five years. So prevention is essential. In addition to finding the right treatment, you can consult your doctor about prevention and early detection.
The first step in treating tongue cancer is determining which method is right for you. Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment can involve surgery and chemotherapy. Surgical resection is often the preferred choice in early stages of the disease. However, this treatment has its drawbacks. If it’s not done right away, the procedure can lead to complications. Surgical resection may involve the removal of part of the tongue, and radiation therapy may be needed to treat regional lymph nodes that have been affected by the cancer.
Surgery is the most effective treatment for tongue cancer. Small tumors that have not spread to lymph nodes in the neck will be removed surgically. In the case of larger tumours, a combination of surgery and radiotherapy will be necessary. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams to target tumours before surgery, minimizing the size of the tumour and improving its chance of a successful outcome. Chemotherapy is another treatment option, which uses specific drugs to attack vulnerabilities in timorous cells. This type of treatment can be given either intravenously or orally.
Toxins can cause cancer in many areas of the body, including the mouth. In addition, tobacco use is a significant risk factor for tongue cancer, as it is linked to 85% of all head and neck cancers. Exposure to second-hand smoke can also increase your risk of developing the disease. This is why early detection is key for people at higher risk for this disease. And while early detection is critical, treatment for tongue cancer will depend on the stage of the disease.
