Tongue cancer: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition

What is tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer is a type of cancer in the oral cavity. Cancer itself is characterized by changing normal cells to become abnormal in carrying out their functions.

These abnormal cells most often start from thin squamous cells that line the surface of the tongue. More precisely, the part of your tongue that is visible when you stick your tongue out at someone. Cancer that develops in this area is commonly referred to as oral cancer or oral cancer.

In addition, abnormal cells can also attack the base or base of the tongue, which is the back third of the tongue. This section is very near the throat (pharynx). Cancer that develops in this area is called hypopharyngeal cancer.

Your tongue acts as a sense of taste which also helps you to speak and get nutrients from food. If cancer attacks this sense of taste, of course the overall health of the body will be disturbed.

Is cancer contagious?

Cancer of any type, including those affecting the mouth, is not a contagious disease. Even if a person with tongue cancer kisses, share the same food or utensils with a healthy person.

How common is tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that is not quite common in Indonesians compared to breast cancer or lung cancer.

Based on 2018 Globocan data, the incidence of this cancer is 5,078 people with a death rate of 2,326 people. The total number is a aggregate of people who also have cancer of the gums, lips, or other areas of the mouth.

This type of cancer most often affects men over the age of 60. Cancer that attacks the sense of taste is rare in women under the age of 40.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer causes a variety of symptoms that can be felt at stage 1 (early stage) and advanced stages, such as stages 2, 3, and 4.

The characteristics of tongue cancer sufferers are actually not much different from those with early to advanced stages of oral cancer.

More specifically, the signs and symptoms of tongue cancer that generally occur are:

• Red or white patches on the tongue that don't go away.
• Sore throat that doesn't go away.
• A lump or sore appears on the tongue that doesn't heal.
• Pain when swallowing food or drinks and often cause flatulence.
• The mouth is often numb.
• Bleeding on the tongue, not caused by tongue biting or other injuries.
• Although rare, the ear can sometimes feel painful

There may be other signs and symptoms of cancer not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If you feel the symptoms of tongue cancer mentioned above, see a doctor immediately. This is especially true if symptoms appear for no apparent cause and do not improve after a few weeks despite trying common treatments.

Cause

What causes tongue cancer?

The causes of tongue cancer in men, women, and children are not known with certainty. Most likely, tongue cancer can occur due to the cells in your mouth undergoing DNA changes. These changes allow cancer cells to continue to grow and divide so many. In addition, the healthy cells in the tongue die.

Cancer cells will accumulate on the tongue to form tumors. Over time they can spread to other areas of the mouth and to other areas of the head and neck or other parts of the body.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for tongue cancer?

Although the exact cause of tongue cancer is not known, researchers have found various factors that can increase the risk of cancer, including:

• Have the habit of smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Having sex with a person infected with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).
• Have a weak immune system, such as people with HIV / AIDS.
• Experiencing irritation due to continually serrated teeth or ill-fitting dentures.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is tongue cancer diagnosed?

The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the more chances of a cure for yourself. To diagnose this condition, generally the doctor will ask about the symptoms of tongue cancer you feel and examine your mouth.

To check, your doctor will likely recommend an X-ray scan or CT scan (computerized tomography). In time, several X-rays will take pictures of the tongue from different angles of light.

When put together to show images, the results can be more detailed. A CT scan can also be done by taking a tissue sample from your mouth to be tested by means of a biopsy.

Your doctor will also recommend that you have an annual screening for symptoms of oral cancer. During the screening process, the doctor will check for some changes in the mouth or throat every year.

After the medical test is done, the doctor can determine the stage of the cancer you have. It is called stage 1 (early), if the cancer on the tongue forms a tumor less than 4 cm in size. In this case, surgery is the most important treatment option.

Meanwhile, tumors on the tongue measuring more than 4 cm are categorized as advanced cancer. Cancer cells have not or have attacked lymph nodes and other healthy organs.

Surgery remains the main treatment option, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. If chemotherapy is not possible, the doctor will recommend targeted therapy. Treatment considerations are based not only on stage, but also on your body's health.

What are the ways to treat tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer can be cured. However, there are various things that affect the percentage of people with tongue cancer to recover from this disease. The patient's recovery depends on the stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health condition, and the patient's age.

Ways to cure tongue cancer that doctors usually recommend are:

Operation

Surgery is a medical procedure to remove cancer cells from the body so that they no longer spread and attack other healthy tissues and organs.

If the tumor is small, the doctor may perform simple surgery using a laser and administer a local anesthetic. Meanwhile, if the cancer is severe enough, part or all of the tongue will be removed.

This surgical process is called a glossectomy. After that, the doctor will perform a reconstruction operation on your tongue again.

If cancer cells have invaded nearby lymph nodes, these organs will also be removed. This operation is called a neck dissection in order to prevent cancer recurrence.

The side effects of this cancer treatment are bleeding, infection, and blood clots. Sometimes, the side effects can also make it difficult for you to talk or eat.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment option with X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used as a treatment for tongue cancer without surgery. It can also be done after surgery or in combination with chemotherapy.

The side effects of this cancer treatment are dry mouth and easy injury and the tongue's ability to taste changes.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that relies on drugs that can destroy cancer cells or shrink the size of the tumor. Tongue cancer drugs that are commonly used in chemotherapy are:

• Cisplatin
• Carboplatin
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
• Paclitaxel (Taxol^®)
• Docetaxel (Taxotere^®)
• Hydroxyurea
• Methotrexate
• Bleomycin
• Capecitabine

These drugs can be taken by mouth in pill form or injected directly into a vein. Several drugs can be used alone or in combination.

The combination of drugs is effective enough to reduce the size of the tumor. However, this can cause side effects that may be more severe.

Common side effects of chemotherapy are hair loss, vomiting and nausea, diarrhea, mouth sores, and low white blood cell counts.

Target therapy

If not with chemotherapy, radiotherapy is usually combined with targeted therapy. The drug used in the treatment of tongue cancer is cetuximab, which is a type of medicine called a monoclonal antibody.

Besides that, there is also the drug Nivolumab. This drug is used to stimulate the immune system to be more sensitive and stronger against cancer cells. Usually, this drug is prescribed by doctors when the cancer recurs within 6 months after chemotherapy is stopped.

Medicines used in targeted therapy and immunotherapy can also cause side effects.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat tongue cancer?

The adoption of a healthy lifestyle that is suitable for cancer sufferers is a must-have home treatment. You are not allowed to smoke, limit your consumption of unhealthy foods and reduce your alcohol intake.

Conversely, consumption of vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds is highly recommended. The reason is, these foods contain lots of antioxidants that can protect cells to stay healthy. In addition, you need to adjust your daily activities, exercise routine, and get enough rest.

The traditional use of herbal plants or herbs, such as spirulina, green tea, or turmeric extract has indeed shown potential as a cure for tongue cancer.

However, using these natural ingredients as an alternative treatment for tongue cancer requires approval and supervision by a doctor.

So, consult this first with your doctor before using it. The reason is, how to treat tongue cancer naturally has not been fully proven to be effective so it is feared that it will cause problems.

Prevention

How do you prevent tongue cancer?

One way to prevent tongue cancer is to reduce the various risks. More specifically, the following are:

• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke

Chemicals from burning cigarettes can increase the risk of cancer by forming an abscess on the tongue that is grayish white (leukoplakia). Cigarette chemicals also damage genes in cells that can lead to cancer.

• HPV Vaccine

The next step to prevent tongue cancer is to get the HPV vaccine because this virus can increase the risk of oral cancer.

• Limit alcohol

Your drinking habits must be limited if you want to prevent cancer. The reason is, alcohol contains carcinogenic substances that can trigger the body's cells to become abnormal.

• Be diligent at the dentist

Check the health of your teeth and mouth every 6 months. In addition, maintain oral health by diligently brushing your teeth twice a day in the morning and at night.