Tongue Cancer

Tongue Cancer Explained

Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that grows along or in any part of the tongue, the muscular organ that extends from the throat to the mouth. Cancer of the tongue is called oral tongue cancer. When cancer is located at the base of the tongue, or the back third of the tongue near the tonsils and soft palate, it is called oropharyngeal cancer.

Nerves and muscles that make up the tongue are important to swallowing, eating and speaking. Tongue cancer can affect many or all of these functions.

Tongue Cancer Treatment Options

Though treatment recommendations may vary depending on your type and stage of tongue cancer, treatment may include chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy, or some combination of these.

A referral to a dietitian and a speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist may be recommended to assist in eating, swallowing or speaking symptoms.

The Different Types of Tongue Cancer

While several types of cancer can grow on the tongue, most tongue cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, similar to the cells that are common to a type of skin cancer. Most oropharyngeal cancers, as much as 70%, may be related to human papillomavirus (HPV).