What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Tongue cancer is a type of oral cancer, with clinical symptoms primarily manifested in the following aspects. Many patients develop lumps on the tongue, which generally have unclear boundaries and easily adhere to surrounding tissues, showing limited mobility. The lumps exhibit persistent rapid growth, and when they invade nearby tissues, patients can experience ear pain and difficulties in tongue movement. In advanced stages, patients with tongue cancer may have a fixed tongue, drooling, difficulty eating, and unclear speech. Additionally, lumps in tongue cancer can undergo necrosis, ulceration, and secondary infections, bleeding, and some may have an abnormal taste. The disease can lead to lymph node metastasis, causing lymph node enlargement, often manifesting as neck lumps. Some patients may also experience metastasis to bone tissues, resulting in bone pain.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Early symptoms of tongue cancer

The early symptoms of tongue cancer patients are mainly manifested as ulcerous lesions on the surface of the tongue, which relapse frequently. The effectiveness of common anti-inflammatory drugs and ulcer treatments is poor. The edges of these ulcerative lesions are rough and the bottom is unclean, often accompanied by abnormal secretions. When infected, the area may exhibit bleeding, pain, and other symptoms. Additionally, some early-stage patients may develop nodular lesions on the surface of the tongue. These nodules have irregular edges and tend to adhere to the surrounding tongue tissues. They are relatively hard, and their surfaces are prone to friction, bleeding, and even exhibit signs of inflammation such as redness and swelling.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer poses a significant threat to human health, and its early symptoms are not obvious. Many cases initially present as oral ulcers and do not receive immediate attention. By the time the cancer becomes apparent, the best opportunity for treatment might have been missed, so it’s crucial to pay attention to the early signs. The symptoms of tongue cancer often start with a history of local leukoplakia, or long-term chronic irritation, manifesting as visible ulcerative and sharp foreign body growths. This type of growth is relatively fast and is accompanied by obvious pain. The movement of the tongue may be restricted, sometimes causing difficulties in eating and swallowing. Frequently, there is metastasis to the neck lymph nodes. If these conditions occur, it is vital to visit a hospital for timely examination and diagnosis.

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Written by Peng Ting
Dentistry
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What are the differences between tongue ulcers and tongue cancer?

The main difference between tongue ulcers and tongue cancer is whether the ulceration on the tongue can heal or not. Tongue ulcers tend to recur and each outbreak may occur at a different site. They have a self-healing nature and usually heal on their own within two weeks. Most are soft in texture and the diameter of the ulcer surface is less than 0.5 centimeters. If a tongue ulcer does not heal after more than two weeks, it should be highly suspect and suggests the possibility of cancerous changes. Tongue cancer is characterized by a harder texture and larger ulcer diameter, several centimeters or more, typically with a cauliflower-like appearance, a surface covered in filthy pseudomembrane, severe pain, and restricted tongue movement.

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home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
1min 1sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer is a type of oral cancer, with clinical symptoms primarily manifested in the following aspects. Many patients develop lumps on the tongue, which generally have unclear boundaries and easily adhere to surrounding tissues, showing limited mobility. The lumps exhibit persistent rapid growth, and when they invade nearby tissues, patients can experience ear pain and difficulties in tongue movement. In advanced stages, patients with tongue cancer may have a fixed tongue, drooling, difficulty eating, and unclear speech. Additionally, lumps in tongue cancer can undergo necrosis, ulceration, and secondary infections, bleeding, and some may have an abnormal taste. The disease can lead to lymph node metastasis, causing lymph node enlargement, often manifesting as neck lumps. Some patients may also experience metastasis to bone tissues, resulting in bone pain.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
45sec home-news-image

Treatment methods for tongue cancer

Tongue cancer poses a significant threat to human life, and since it can spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, it is crucial to detect and treat it early. The early symptoms of tongue cancer are not very noticeable, and many do not attract attention, such as initial tongue pain, ulcers, erosion, and lumps. For treatment, individualized approaches should be adopted depending on the condition of the disease. If it is an early-stage primary lesion, simple local surgical excision can be done, as well as chemotherapy and cryotherapy. In advanced stages, a comprehensive treatment approach should be adopted, combining surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, with neck lymph node dissection necessary for metastatic cases.