Mouth and throat cancers include cancers of the lips, palate, sides or floor of the mouth, tonsils, back of the throat, and tongue. The latter is one of the most frequent, with approximately 1,800 new cases per year in men and 200 cases in women in France. “The average age at diagnosis is 55 for men and 60 for women”, specifies the Arcagy on its site Info Cancer.
Symptoms of Tongue Cancer
At the onset of the disease, the symptoms of the development of a cancerous tumor in the tongue may be insignificant, leading to late diagnosis. Nearly half of patients already have an advanced tumor when it is posed. However, when they persist, certain signs can put the patient (or sometimes the dentist) on the track, in particular:
- leukoplakia which is a more or less grainy white plaque visible on the mucosa of the tongue;
- discomfort, pain;
- one or more lesions with bleeding on contact (not to be confused with canker sores);
- a tongue that becomes sensitive to hot, cold, and acidic or spicy foods;
- a discolored, irritated or thickened area;
- ankyloglossia, which is reduced mobility of the tongue;
- otalgia, i.e. pain in the ear;
- excess salivation (hypersialorrhoea);
- un ganglion cervical.
“Recent and persistent problems with chewing, swallowing or speaking, especially if they are triggered by the intake of alcoholic beverages or spices” are also reported by patients.
Cancer of the oral cavity: the 2 risk factors to limit
The main preventable risk factors for mouth and throat cancer are tobacco and alcohol. “Smoking includes the consumption of cigarettes, cigars or pipes, chewing tobacco or chewing betel (a mixture of substances containing tobacco, also called paan) and snuff”, recalls the MSD Medical Manual. As for alcohol,the increased risk is proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed”. Inevitably, the risk is amplified when alcohol consumption and tobacco use are combined.
A third risk factor should be noted: infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus causes genital warts which can infect the mouth during oral sex. It is also responsible for cervical cancer in women.
“Other factors that increase the risk are repeated irritation from the sharp edges of chipped teeth, fillings, cavities, or ill-fitting dental prostheses (such as dentures). Previous head and neck x-rays, chronic candidiasis, and poor oral hygiene are also risk factors.”, reports the MSD.
In case of suspicion, it is advisable to see your doctor quickly. He can refer you to a specialist in order to carry out diagnostic examinations including a complete clinical assessment, medical imaging examinations (ENT scanner, panendoscopy, etc.). According to the most recent statistics, the 5-year net survival for tongue cancer is 44%, and 24% at 10 years. This prognosis is much better when the diagnosis is made before the age of 45.