Tongue cancer symptoms & treatment

Tongue cancer starts in the squamous cells, which cover the tongue’s surface. If cancer appears in the front two-thirds of the tongue, it’s considered a type of oral cancer. If cancer appears on the back third of the tongue, it’s considered a form of oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.

Symptoms of tongue cancer

Oral tongue cancer symptoms include:

• A lump that bleeds easily
• A lump on either side of the tongue closest to the teeth

Base of the tongue cancer symptoms include:

• Ear pain (often the first and/or only symptom)
• A sense of fullness or a lump in the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Voice changes

Diagnosis of tongue cancer

First, you’ll meet with your doctor for a physical exam. You’ll talk about your potential symptoms of tongue cancer, and your doctor may order imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans. They may also take a biopsy to test for tongue cancer.

Treatment options for tongue cancer

Your Aurora care team, including head and neck cancer specialists, will work with you to determine the best possible treatment. Options for tongue cancer treatment may include:

• Surgery
• Radiotherapy, which uses high-energy radiation to treat the tumor. This may include CyberKnife® radiosurgery, in which a noninvasive, robotic system delivers high radiation doses to tumors with pinpoint accuracy.
• Chemotherapy, which uses cancer-fighting drugs stop the growth of tumors.