Tongue Cancer
The tongue has 2 parts:
the oral tongue (also called the body of the tongue)
the base of the tongue
Cancer can develop in either part. Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
The oral tongue is the part you see when you poke your tongue out at someone. This is the front two thirds of your tongue. Cancers that develop in this part of the tongue come under a group of cancers called mouth (oral) cancer.
The base of the tongue is the back third of the tongue. This part is very near your throat (pharynx). Cancers that develop in this part are called oropharyngeal cancers (pronounced oar-o-farin-gee-al).
The most common type of tongue cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Squamous cells are the flat, skin like cells that cover the lining of the mouth, nose, larynx, thyroid and throat. Squamous cell carcinoma is the name for a cancer that starts in these cells.
The symptoms of tongue cancer might include:
a red or white patch on the tongue that won't go away
a sore throat that doesn't go away
a sore spot (ulcer) or lump on the tongue that doesn't go away
painful or difficulty swallowing
numbness in the mouth that won't go away
pain or burning feeling over the tongue
problems moving your tongue or speaking
a lump in the neck
unexplained bleeding from the tongue (that's not caused by biting your tongue or another injury)
pain or hearing loss in one ear
weight loss
It's important to remember that these symptoms might be caused by other less serious conditions. But it's best to check symptoms with your GP just to make sure.
The photos below give you an idea of what tongue cancers can look like, but remember that they might appear differently from this. Contact your GP or dentist if you notice anything abnormal.
The pictures below show cancer on the side of the tongue.
And below is a picture of a red patch underneath the tongue.
We don’t know the exact causes of most head and neck cancers, but several risk factors have been identified.
smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars and pipes)
regularly drinking a lot of alcohol
infection with a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
HPV is a type of virus that infects the skin and cells lining the inside of the body. For most people, the infection will get better on its own and they will never know they had it.
This is a common virus that causes no harm in most people. But in some people, the virus can cause changes in the mouth and tongue that can increase the risk of cancer in that area.
Find out more about HPV and cancer
Having a risk factors means that your risk is increased. But it does not mean that you will definitely develop cancer.
Read more about the risks and causes of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer
Your doctor will examine you. They might look at the back of your throat using a small mirror that they put into your mouth. They will check for swollen lymph nodes in your neck.
The only way to confirm a diagnosis of cancer is to take a small amount of tissue (biopsy) from the abnormal area. A specialist doctor examines it under a microscope. They might test your cancer cells to check for HPV infection.
Find out what happens when you have a biopsy for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer
You might have an examination and biopsy under a general anaesthetic. The doctor uses a tube and camera called a panendoscope to look into your throat.
You might also have a nasoendoscopy (sometimes spelt nasendoscopy). You have this in the outpatient department of the hospital. During this procedure the doctor looks:
inside your mouth
at the back of the tongue and throat
at the voice box (larynx)
Your doctor passes a flexible tube called a nasoendoscope through your nose. The tube has a camera and a bright light at the end so they can check for any abnormal looking areas.
It can be a bit uncomfortable, so your doctor may use an anaesthetic spray to numb your throat first. But if you have the anaesthetic spray you can’t eat or drink until it wears off, so you may choose not to have it.
If the specialist sees an abnormal area, they will take a biopsy from that area. This is usually arranged for another time.
You will also have one or more of the following tests:
MRI scan
CT scan
PET-CT scan
blood tests
dental check
ultrasound scan
Find out more about these tests
The stage of your cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread. It helps your doctor decide what treatment you need.
The stage of your cancer depends on:
how far your cancer has grown into local tissues
whether it has spread to nearby lymph glands
whether it has spread to any other part of the body
Doctors use different staging systems. The staging system they use for you depends on where your cancer starts:
Tongue cancer that starts in the front two thirds of your tongue (the oral tongue) is staged as a mouth cancer.
Find out about mouth cancer staging
Tongue cancer that starts in the back third of your tongue (the base of the tongue) is staged as oropharyngeal cancer.
Find out about staging oropharyngeal cancer
The treatment for tongue cancer depends on:
the stage of your cancer
where the cancer is on your tongue
your general health
Last reviewed: 23 Sept 2024
Next review due: 23 Sept 2027
Treatment for tongue cancer depends on how big the cancer is and whether it has spread (the stage). It also depends on which part of the tongue is affected.
The stage of a cancer tells you about its size and whether it has spread. The type means the type of cell the cancer started from. The grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
Your treatment depends on where in your mouth or oropharynx your cancer is, the type, how big it is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health.
Getting practical and emotional support can help you cope with your diagnosis, and life during and after treatment.
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