Warning signs of tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is one of the most common types of oral cancer . The cause of most patients who detect the disease in the late stages is due to the initial symptoms of tongue cancer are unclear, often confused with other common oral diseases.

The tongue is made up of a group of muscles, which helps to taste food, swallow and speak. Healthy tongue is pink and covered with small nodules called papillae. We use the tongue continuously so if the tongue has problems such as discoloration, pain or limiting movement, it can be uncomfortable, uncomfortable and anxious. There are many causes of tongue abnormalities but most tongue problems are not serious and most can be resolved quickly. However, in some cases, tongue abnormalities are a sign of some serious diseases of oral cancer.

Picture 1 of Warning signs of tongue cancer
Healthy tongue is pink and covered with small nodules called papillae.

what?

Tongue cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the mouth and tongue. Initially, the disease did not have a clear expression so it was easy to be overlooked. Tongue cancer is a common disease, arising from malignant epithelial changes covering the tongue or connective tissue structure of the tongue.

Who is easy to tongue

Research has shown that smokers are more likely to develop oral and tongue cancer than non-smokers. Smoking cigars, pipes or smoking are all at risk for tongue cancer. Do nicotine in medicine and smoke harms different parts of the mouth.

Drinking a lot of alcohol: A study has shown that 70-80% of people affected by oral or tongue cancer are alcoholics. Alcohol has the ability to stimulate genes that cause cancer and cause other malignant diseases.

People exposed to intense radiation also have a higher risk of developing oral and tongue cancer; In addition, a person is at risk of developing tongue cancer when family members have been diagnosed with the same disease.

Some symptoms may appear when the tongue has problems

Difficulty in tongue movement; Changes in size, the tongue may be too large or suddenly swell up; Change in color, from normal color of tongue to white, red or black; Pain or burning sensation on the tongue; Occurrence of ulcerative lesions on the tongue; Painful tongue is often the result of an injury or infection; Biting the tongue when eating chewing, tongue burns due to temperature or chemicals; Tongue inflammation forms a painful swelling on the tongue; Aphthe ulcers appear in the cyclic tongue, causing pain and discomfort when chewing, the cause may be due to injury, infection, hormonal and stress disorders; Tongue burning syndrome is common in postmenopausal women or smokers.

Picture 2 of Warning signs of tongue cancer
Image of tongue cancer.

  1. White tongue may be due to: White patches on the tongue, shaving without peeling (leukoplakia). Although not dangerous, leukoplakia may be a precursor to cancer.
  2. Red tongue may be due to : Deficiency of folic acid and vitamin B12.
  3. Black tongue : because the papillae become too long. That makes them more likely to contain bacteria. When the bacteria grow, it can make the tongue turn black. This condition is uncommon and most likely to occur in people who do not practice good oral hygiene. People who take drugs with antibiotics and chemotherapy, those with diabetes may be more likely to have black fur.
  4. Oral fungus: white patches in the mouth can be lost when shaving to leave the surface bleeding. Oral fungus is most commonly seen in newborns, the elderly, wearers of poorly hygiene dentures, people with weakened immune systems, HIV, and diabetes after long-term use of antibiotics.
  5. Map glossitis : many red spots surrounded by irregular irregular white banks are like maps. Usually do not treat because there is no discomfort.
  6. Do not clean the tongue regularly and properly , bacteria in the oral cavity convert food secretions and substances from saliva into volatile sulfur-containing substances that cause bad breath.

Signs of tongue cancer warning

  1. Tongue cancer often manifests : lumps on the tongue, sore tongue, difficulty swallowing, sores .
  2. Lumps on the tongue : appearing on the side of the tongue in contact with the teeth can develop tumors. If these tumors are not treated, they will grow and ulcerate. Lumps can be red or white, causing difficulty when eating, chewing even drinking water.
  3. Tongue pain : This is a symptom that appears in the fourth stage of cancer, because the early stages usually do not cause pain. You will feel pain when chewing. If the malignant tumor grows bigger, it can also hurt the ear.
  4. Difficulty swallowing : Although there are no acne or lymph nodes in the tongue, women with this type of cancer also feel that a lump in the throat makes them difficult to swallow. Or when tongue cancer develops, the body's immune system weakens causing ulcers and mouth heat.