To do so, visit your dentist regularly and make an appointment to talk to an expert. This way, you’ll know exactly what to expect from your treatment. And, if you’re diagnosed, you can start taking steps to prevent it from progressing.
Early detection of tongue cancer is vital. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy. Depending on the stage and extent of the cancer, the outlook for surviving this condition is quite favorable. If detected in its early stages, a patient can expect a five-year survival rate. When the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, however, the survival rate drops to only 40%. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, surgical removal will be necessary.
The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer affects the surface cells of the tongue, including the base and the oral tongue. Verrucous cells are slow-growing and rarely spread to other parts of the body. However, if you have symptoms of any of these conditions, you should visit your doctor immediately. At the very least, you should avoid smoking and drinking excessively. You should also avoid excessive alcohol consumption and heavy alcohol use. You should also visit your dentist regularly.
Despite its potential risks, smoking and drinking alcohol are still two important risk factors for developing tongue cancer. Although alcohol is a less powerful carcinogen than tobacco, its combined use doubles your risk. The combination of alcohol and tobacco can lead to a 30 to 36-fold increase in your risk of developing this disease. For this reason, it’s imperative to visit your doctor as soon as you suspect you might be suffering from tongue cancer.
Treatment for tongue cancer depends on the stage of the disease, size of the tumor, and the extent of the spread. Surgical removal of the cancerous tissue may be the only option for an early stage. Later, targeted radiation and chemotherapy are commonly used. Depending on the stage of the disease, surgery is usually the best option. In advanced cases, patients may have the cancer removed entirely. However, surgery is not always a viable option, which may require multiple operations.
There are many symptoms of tongue cancer that don’t indicate you have oral cancer. The tumor may only be 2 centimeters in size. If the tumor has not spread to surrounding structures, it’s probably not cancer. If, however, the tumor has spread to lymph nodes, it’s likely to spread to other areas of the mouth. Regardless of stage, you should schedule a thorough exam and follow the doctor’s recommendations.
