Tongue Cancer treatment

Tongue cancer is a malignant tumor that most often arises from the squamous cells of the tongue. Squamous cells are similar to skin cells and are part of the mucous membrane that covers the mouth, tongue, nasopharynx, etc.

A cancer that arises from the squamous cells of the tongue is called squamous cell carcinoma. If the tumor begins at the base of the tongue, such a neoplasm is referred to as oropharyngeal cancer.

In case the primary tumor is located on the body of the tongue, i.e. on its front two thirds, such a cancer belongs to the group of tumors of the oral cavity.

This division of the primary tumor of the tongue, helps doctors to predict the course of the disease and offer more effective treatment options.

The true cause of tongue cancer is still unknown. However, there are risk factors that increase a person’s chances of getting the disease. These include:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco,
• Excessive alcohol consumption,
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables and excessive use of red meat or processed foods in the diet,
• Human papillomavirus (HPV),
• A history of a family history of tongue cancer or other squamous cell cancer.
• Men after age 50 are more likely to get the disease compared to women, as well as younger men.

Additional risk factors include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
• Exposure to chemicals, including asbestos, sulfuric acid, and formaldehyde,
• Poor oral hygiene or other factors affecting oral health.

In the early stages of tongue cancer, especially if it is at the base of the tongue, the patient may not feel any symptoms. As the tumor grows and spreads, the patient may notice symptoms such as:

• Pain of the tongue area,
• Soreness when swallowing, as well as soreness in the throat and jaw,
• A “coma” sensation in the throat,
• Problems chewing and swallowing food,
• Ulcers in the area of the tongue that do not heal for a long period of time,
• Feeling of numbness in the mouth,
• Unreasonable bleeding from the tongue,
• Swelling of the tongue that does not go away over time.

Determining the degree of development, or stage, of tongue cancer begins with determining its localization. Cancer of the oropharynx and cancer of the mouth have different stages of tumor development and treatment prognosis.

Tongue root tumor (oropharyngeal cancer)

In the first stage, the tumor does not exceed 4 centimeters in diameter. Cancer cells may affect the lymph nodes in the neck, but only on the side where the tumor is located. Lymph nodes in the first stage do not exceed 6 cm.

In the second stage, the lymph nodes in the neck may also be affected by tumor cells on the opposite side from the tumor. The tumor may be larger than 4 cm in diameter or spread to the epiglottis.  The lymph nodes do not exceed 6 cm.

Stage 3 cancer of the root of the tongue is characterized by involvement and enlargement of any lymph node above 6 cm. The tumor may also spread to the lower jaw, larynx, or muscles.

Stage 4 means that the tumor has spread beyond its primary anatomic location to other tissues and organs, such as the lungs.

Tongue body tumor (oral cancer)

Stage 0 or carcinoma in situ (CIS) means your cancer is at a very early stage. Some specialists refer to this condition as precancerous. At this stage, the tumor cells do not spread beyond the mucosa.

The first stage of cancer of the body of the tongue is characterized by tumor development up to 2 cm. and cancer cells penetration into the depth of healthy tissues by 5 mm or less.

In the second stage, the primary tumor does not exceed 4 cm and does not grow more than 10 mm into the tongue. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs.

Doctors will diagnose stage three if the tumor is more than 4 cm in size or has spread more than 10 mm into the healthy tissue of the tongue. Stage three can also be diagnosed if one lymph node contains cancer cells on the same side of the neck as the cancer.

Stage four cancer of the body of the tongue means that the tumor has greatly spread beyond the primary location. In this case, the tumor may grow into neighboring anatomical entities, such as the neck, affecting lymph nodes in the neck, the carotid artery, and the lower jaw.

Stage 4 is also established in cases where the tumor has spread to other tissues and organs, such as the lungs and bones.

Some tumors can affect lymph nodes and blood vessels. Cancer cells can spread through the person’s body and form secondary tumors. These are called metastases. Tongue cancer, in its advanced stages, can metastasize to the bones and lungs.

To prolong life and improve its quality, palliative therapy, which may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy, is available in foreign clinics. This helps slow the growth of tumor cells, reduce pain in the bones and lungs, and avoid complications in the form of pathological fractures and bleeding.

The cost of diagnosis depends on what diagnosis and treatment the patient received in the place of residence, the degree of spread of the tumor, as well as the country and clinic in which the patient wants to continue treatment.

The cost of diagnostics in Turkey is about $3,500, in Germany – 5,000 euros, in Israel – $6,000.

In order to get a personalized diagnosis plan, leave an appeal on the MedTour platform.

The life expectancy of a patient diagnosed with tongue cancer is affected by the extent to which the tumor has spread.

If the tumor has not spread beyond the tongue, the patient’s 5-year survival rate is over 81%. When a tumor has locally spread to nearby organs, tissues, or lymph nodes, 68% of all patients pass the 5-year mark.

When the tumor has spread to distant tissues and organs, such as the lungs, the five-year survival rate is 66%.

Early detection of tongue cancer increases a patient’s chances of a full recovery and a stable remission.

• Surgical removal of the tumor,
• Chemotherapy,
• Radiation therapy,
• Targeted therapy,
• Palliative treatment,
• Clinical trials.