What is the best treatment for tongue cancer?

Treatment for tongue cancer typically involves surgery to remove the cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy also may be recommended.

What does early stage tongue cancer look like?

Cancer on the tongue first appears as a pinkish-red lump or sore on the sides of tongue margins. It may be numb or firm to feel and doesn’t fade away over time. The characteristics of these lumps include: They may look like a patch or a lump or look like an ulcer.

How do doctors treat tongue cancer?

Surgery is often the best way to remove a tumor from the part of your tongue you can see. Your doctor will probably take out some healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes as well, to make sure all the cancer is gone. If the cancer is on the back of your tongue, you may have radiation therapy (X-rays and other radiation).

How serious is tongue cancer?

When identified early, tongue cancer is highly curable, but it can be deadly if it is not promptly diagnosed and treated. Tongue cancer is a serious, life-threatening form of oral cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancer accounts for 2% to 4% of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States.

What is the prognosis for cancer of the tongue?

Tongue cancer prognosis varies according to several factors, including age of the patient, treatment given, and stage of the cancer. The average five-year survival rate is about 42 percent.

What is the treatment for cancer of the tongue?

If the cancer is on the back of your tongue, you may have radiation therapy (X-rays and other radiation). Sometimes the best treatment is a combination of chemotherapy, or cancer-fighting drugs, and radiation. You might need therapy afterward to help you chew, move your tongue, swallow, and speak better.

How can you prevent tongue cancer?

Treatment of tongue cancer starts with prevention. Preventive measures include not smoking and not using smokeless tobacco products (chewing tobacco). It is also important not to use alcohol in excess. Using safe sex practices is also key.