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Cancer

Tongue Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Tongue Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. Do you know the symptoms of tongue cancer which is a rare type of cancer? So, what is tongue cancer? Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that manifests itself with early symptoms and is often ignored by humans. It is the type of cancer that forms different tissues in the structure of the tongue, causing the cells to grow in an uncontrolled manner. In the following text, we will explain the symptoms, causes, and treatment of tongue cancer respectively.

Symptoms of Tongue Cancer

  • Red and white spots in the tongue grow over time and become fluffy,
  • Sudden bleeding occurs in your gums while eating,
  • Difficulty in chewing and swallowing during meals,
  • Have mouth ulcers,
  • Feeling numbness in the mouth,
  • Difficulty breathing and opening mouth,
  • Changing in the sound of your voice,
  • Swollen lymph nodes

If you notice these symptoms, you should see an ENT doctor immediately.

Causes of Tongue Cancer

Tongue cancer is caused by the change of DNA in the tongue cells. The reasons that cause this situation are:

Cigarettes: Cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipes and all kinds of tobacco increases the risk of cancer in the tongue. This includes chewable tobacco products. These products cause itchy mouth. The risk of tongue cancer increases after having mouth itchy a long time.

Alcohol: Alcohol also has a similar effect as tobacco products do. Approximately twenty-five percent of cases of tongue cancer do not smoke and use alcohol.

HPV: HPV (human papillomavirus) microorganisms transmitted through sexual intercourse can be transmitted to the tongue by oral sex and can lead to tongue cancer.

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Intraoral Appliances: Apparatuses such as denture teeth placed in the mouth for different reasons may cause itching in the tongue when they are not sitting well. The risk of tongue cancer is increased if the itching continues with friction and stinging paths at the same point for a long time.

Some Factors of Genetic and Living Conditions: Patients with these conditions have a higher risk of tongue cancer:

  • People with family members who have a history of cancer,
  • People who have suffered from cancer in the past,
  • People who are older adult. The higher the age, the higher the risk.
  • People who do not consume fruits and vegetables.

Carcinogens: Some people have a higher risk of tongue cancer due to the environment they work and the foods they consume. Unfortunately, carcinogenic substances vary widely. Food additives or repeated use of oil can be examples of them. In recent researches, processed meat such as sausage and salami increase the risk of cancer. Materials such as coal dust, smoke are strong carcinogens. Carcinogens, which are especially volatile or consumed as food, increase the risk of tongue cancer more because of their direct contact with the tongue.

Tongue Cancer Treatment

One or more of the following treatment methods may be applied by parameters such as the size of the cancerous area spread to other mouth regions, characteristic of cancer, etc.

General Surgery: There may be more than one surgery option. In the early diagnosed cases, if the cancerous area is small, it can be removed by an easy operation.

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Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is performed only if the surgery is insufficient or dangerous. With this treatment, the cancerous area is minimized and ready for general surgery.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with some drugs and chemicals.

Glossectomy: In more serious cases, the procedure called glossectomy may require the removal of a large part of the tongue. If cancer has spread to the jaw and other areas, it can be removed from the jaw bones by maxillectomy or mandibulectomy.

Aesthetic Surgery: A number of aesthetic operations can also be performed in order to fully perform the functions of the tongue and mouth after general surgery or when needed.

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