The warning signs of tongue cancer
Tongue cancer - Common symptoms and how to reduce the risk revealed.
A not so common cancer is tongue cancer.
This cancer occurs when cell growth becomes erratic and abnormal and it tends to grow quickly. Many factors can cause or increase the risk of developing cancer.
Here are a few signs to look out for:
• A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal in two weeks time
• A lump or thickening in the check
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils or lining of the mouth
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
• Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
• Chronic hoarseness
• Pain in the ear
Main causes for cancer:
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol use
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
• Certain genetic forms of anaemia
• A condition called Graft Versus Host Disease, which occurs in some patients who undergo stem cell transplants
Treatment of Cancer of the Tongue:
• Surgery
• Radiotherapy
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Chemotherapy
• Details: Contact 0800 22 6622 or send an email to info@cansa.org.za.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
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