Cancer Head & Neck Cancer An Overview of Tongue Cancer By Kristin Hayes, RN Updated on October 10, 2022 Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Cancer of the tongue makes up 2% of all cancers, but the incidence varies considerably in different parts of the world. Cancer of the tongue occurs more frequently in men than women and is rare under the age of 40. Verywell / Laura Porter Overview Cancer of the tongue generally falls into one of two categories or types of cancer—oral or oropharyngeal cancer. There are two portions of the tongue. Most of it is the part that you normally see and can voluntarily move. If cancer starts in this portion of the tongue, it's usually called oral cancer. The bottom one-third of the tongue is sometimes called the base of the tongue. It's very close to your throat (pharynx). If cancer originates in this portion of the tongue, it's usually called oropharyngeal cancer. This is the part of your tongue that is firmly attached to other tissue and therefore can't be moved voluntarily. You also can't see the base of your tongue. As with other types of cancer, tongue cancer is further classified by the type of tissue from which it originates. Squamous cells, for example, are long, flat, superficial cells that cover the lining of the tongue. Cancer that arises from squamous cell tissue is called squamous cell carcinoma. Most tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, although there are other, rare, types of tongue cancer, as well. They are named after the tissue or structure from which they originate. Symptoms Symptoms of tongue cancer include: Difficulty swallowing or speaking A feeling that there's something in your throat (a lump or a mass) Sore throat White or red patches on your tongue A feeling of numbness in your mouth Unexplained bleeding from your tongue Rarely, symptoms of tongue cancer can also include ear pain You should call your healthcare provider anytime you have unexplained symptoms of tongue cancer. Make sure you visit your dentist every six months as your dentist may be the most likely individual to notice any subtle abnormalities in your mouth and on your tongue. Causes Cancer occurs when some of your cells begin to grow abnormally and much too quickly. Many factors can cause or increase your risk of developing cancer. Factors known to increase your risk of tongue cancer include: Tobacco use Alcohol use Chewing betel quid and gutka Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection Male gender Age Certain genetic forms of anemia A condition called graft-versus-host disease, which occurs in some patients who undergo stem cell transplants About Human Papillomavirus HPV is a virus that causes cervical cancer and, more rarely, other types of cancers such as tongue and tonsil cancer. The virus is spread through sexual activity, including oral sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50% of men and women will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives. A recent increase in head and neck cancers has been attributed to this virus. While tongue cancer used to be rare in people under age 55, the American Cancer Society notes that oropharyngeal cancer may increase in younger populations due to HPV-linked cancers becoming more common. An HPV infection doesn't always become cancerous. HPV vaccines are available but must be given before a young person has become sexually active. They are not yet proven to reduce the risk of mouth and throat cancers, but it is believed that they will. Diagnosis If you have symptoms of tongue cancer that don't go away, see your healthcare provider. If your practitioner suspects tongue cancer, he or she may order one or more tests to diagnose it. Sometimes healthcare providers use a small, thin tube with a camera on it (called a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope) to see into the back of the mouth and examine the lymph nodes in this area. Tissue biopsies may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and type of tongue cancer (for example, squamous cell). Treatment There are three ways to treat tongue cancer and they may be used alone or in combination. People diagnosed early may need only surgical treatment, whereas those with advanced tongue cancer may need two or even all three types of treatment. The three kinds of treatment used for tongue cancer are: Surgery: Removal of the cancerous tumor and the surrounding tissue Radiotherapy: Uses high-energy particles from radioactive elements to kill cancerous cells left behind after surgery Chemotherapy: Uses drugs to destroy cancerous cells and tissues (the two most common types of chemotherapy agents are cisplatin and fluorouracil) Prognosis If you are diagnosed with tongue cancer, your healthcare provider may give you a prognosis—an understanding of the probable course of your disease. It's important to keep in mind that some people with a very poor prognosis are able to recover from their illness, while others with a very positive prognosis may not survive. In general, if cancer of the tongue is diagnosed at an early stage, it can be cured, but this becomes less likely the longer it is present and goes without treatment. For this reason, if you have symptoms of tongue cancer, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible. 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Family Physician. Assessing Oral Malignancies. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0401/p1379.html Paderno A, Morello R, Piazza C. Tongue carcinoma in young adults: a review of the literature. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018;38(3):175-180. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1932 Sultana J, Bashar A, Molla MR. New Management Strategies of Oral Tongue Cancer in Bangladesh. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2014;13(4):394-400. doi: 10.1007/s12663-013-0566-8 Ram H, Sarkar J, Kumar H, Konwar R, Bhatt ML, Mohammad S. Oral cancer: risk factors and molecular pathogenesis. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2011;10(2):132-7. doi: 10.1007/s12663-011-0195-z Kim SM. Human papilloma virus in oral cancer. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016;42(6):327-336. doi: 10.5125/jkaoms.2016.42.6.327 Center for Disease Control. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer: An Update on Prevention Strategies Script. cdc.gov/std/hpv/hpvscript.pdf Additional Reading Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer.html. Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm. By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit