Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
When cancer affects this area of the tongue the tumor is typically found in the side of the tongue. So, what does tongue cancer look like? The tumor appears red to grayish-pink in color and is often somewhat ulcerated. When the tumor is touched or bitten it tends to easily bleed. In some cases where the cancer is larger the patient's ability to swallow and speak can be affected. This cancer can affect people of just about any age, but it is far more common in older people. In some cases, the cause is not discernible, but it is known that drinking and smoking are significant risk factors.
In the early stages of oral tongue cancer, surgery can often be performed to remove the cancer. In many cases, the patient will experience very little functional or cosmetic change. However, each patient is different, as is how the cancer affects them.
Surgery is often done as an outpatient surgery and can be just as effective as radiation therapy. Patients who have serious lung disease or heart disease might, however, not be able to have surgery, because these conditions can make anesthesia riskier. For these patients, radiation is the best, and often just as effective, option. The main difference between radiation and surgery for small oral cancers is radiation will require the patient to be treated often, sometimes every day, where surgery is most often just done once.
If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck there is a different type of surgery, referred to as neck dissection, that can be performed to remove what is referred to as secondary cancer deposits. There are several different types of neck dissection that can be done and the type a patient has will completely depend on them and their cancer. The types range from radical to conservative.