What are symptoms of tongue cancer?

Tongue cancer can manifest itself by a number of symptoms, including numbness in the mouth, non-healing ulcers on the mucous membrane, and a feeling of a lump in the throat, oncologist Ali Mudunov (Russia) said.

According to him, the emergence of cancer in humans is closely linked to cell mutations: cells stop self-destructing when the right time comes, instead they become malignant, accumulate and form a tumor.

The trigger for cell mutations, according to the specialist, can be different factors, smoking being one of them.

"Tobacco smoke is the most common carcinogen, which also affects the organs that first come into contact with it: the oral cavity and the tongue," Ali Mudunov said.

Tongue cancer can be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Non-healing sores in the mouth, on the tongue;
• Swelling in the oral cavity;
• Impaired mobility of the jaw, tongue;
• Numbness in the mouth, tongue;
• Pain, discomfort in the mouth;
• Stains (whitish or red) on the gums;
• Feeling of a lump in the throat;
• A change in the voice.

If at least one of the symptoms does not go away within a week, the specialist recommends seeing a doctor.

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