Tongue cancer: Common warning signs to look out for

Tongue  cancer occurs when cell growth becomes erratic and abnormal and it tends to grow quickly, says a report by our sister Caxton publication, Randfontein Herald.

Here are a few signs to look out for:

• A sore or lesion in the mouth that does not heal in two weeks

• A lump or thickening in the cheek

• 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

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Treatment for cancer of the tongue:

• Surgery

• Radiotherapy

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

• Chemotherapy

For more information on cancer, contact 0800 22 6622 or email info@cansa.org.za.

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