(Health Korea News / Lim Hae-ri) Usually, when we think of cancer, we tend to think of it as a disease that occurs often in the elderly, except for leukemia. In fact, most cancers occur in people over middle age who have been exposed to carcinogens such as smoking or drinking for a long time. However, tongue cancer, which occurs on the tongue, is not uncommon in people under the age of 30, who are relatively young. In particular, tongue cancer is often mistaken for oral ulcers, which delays diagnosis and treatment. On July 27th, ‘World Head and Neck Cancer Day’, we learned about tongue cancer from Professor Han Seung-hoon of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital.
The tongue is a very flexible muscular organ that detects the taste, temperature, and texture of food, and allows you to chew and swallow food. It is one of the most common sites where cancer develops in the mouth. The number of patients with tongue cancer is steadily increasing, and the increase is the largest among head and neck cancers. According to the annual report of the National Cancer Registry Project, the number of new patients with head and neck cancer increased by 29% from 32,147 in 2017 to 41,460 in 2021 over the past five years, but the number of patients with tongue cancer increased by 33% from 748 in 2017 to 993 in 2021. This is the largest increase among the organs where head and neck cancer develops, excluding lip cancer (lip cancer), which has a small number of patients.
Interestingly, the number of new patients with tongue cancer is steadily increasing even in the younger age group. In 2021, 80 new patients with tongue cancer were in their 20s and 30s, accounting for 8%. 46% of new patients with tongue cancer were in their 20s and 50s, and nearly half of all patients were in their 60s or younger.
Early symptoms of tongue cancer include circular white necrotic inflammatory ulcers, thick white spots called leukoplakia, and red spots. In more than half of tongue cancers, the tumor develops on the side of the tongue, and there may be no pain in the early stages. However, if the tumor invades the lingual nerves, severe pain occurs.
“If a tongue ulcer lasts more than 3 weeks or grows larger, you should suspect tongue cancer.”
These early symptoms are similar to those of common stomatitis, making them difficult to distinguish. Stomatitis can occur when the immune system is weakened by excessive stress or fatigue, when there is a wound due to physical stimulation, when there is a bacterial infection, or when there is an allergic reaction to spicy food. Professor Han Seung-hoon explained, “Most stomatitis heals naturally within 1 to 2 weeks, but if these symptoms do not go away for more than 3 weeks or the lesion grows larger, tongue cancer should be suspected.” He added, “Compared to stomatitis, tongue cancer has a larger lesion area, can cause persistent bleeding or pain, and can easily metastasize to the lymph nodes around the neck, so you should check for a hard lump that can be felt under the chin or on the side of the neck.”
If diagnosed with tongue cancer, the extent of invasion of surrounding tissues and whether there is metastasis will be assessed through imaging tests. Treatment is mainly performed by surgery to completely remove the lesion, including the normal tissue surrounding the tumor. Tongue cancer easily metastasizes to the lymph nodes around the neck, and in this case, surgery to remove the lymph nodes around the neck together is required depending on the thickness of the lesion. Depending on the extent of the lesion, if more than half of the tongue needs to be removed, reconstructive surgery using the skin and muscles of the wrist or thigh will be performed. After surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be added depending on the individual’s condition.
Tongue cancer is a difficult cancer to treat, but if discovered and treated early, the function of the tongue can be preserved to the greatest extent possible. However, if the treatment period is missed, the cancer will metastasize quickly and the cure rate will inevitably decrease. Therefore, you should carefully watch for early symptoms and immediately see a specialist if you have any suspicious symptoms.
Professor Han Seung-hoon said, “In order to prevent tongue cancer, it is important to reduce smoking and drinking, prevent cavities and periodontal disease, and thoroughly manage oral hygiene, such as oral cleaning.” He added, “I hope that this World Head and Neck Cancer Day will be an opportunity to raise awareness of tongue cancer and once again recognize the importance of early diagnosis.”
Meanwhile, July 27th of every year is ‘World Head and Neck Cancer Day’. It was established by the International Union for the Prevention of Cancer to promote understanding of head and neck cancer and emphasize the importance of prevention.
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Source: www.hkn24.com
