Tongue cancer usually starts on the sides or underside of the tongue. It’s one of the more common oral cancers in India, and early cases treated with surgery alone often have excellent outcomes.
Signs Worth Getting Checked
Should You Be Worried?
Most tongue soreness comes from biting, a sharp tooth, or a minor irritation, and clears up within a week or two. What’s different is a sore that stays past three weeks, especially one that’s painless or numb rather than obviously injured. That combination is worth a specialist look rather than more waiting.
What Raises Your Risk
Tobacco and betel nut use are the strongest risk factors, with alcohol raising it further. It can occur in people with no history of either, so persistent symptoms shouldn’t be dismissed based on lifestyle alone.
How It’s Diagnosed
Examination of the tongue and neck.
Biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Imaging to assess depth and any lymph node involvement, which matters more for tongue cancer than almost any other oral site.
How It’s Treated
- Smaller tumours: surgical removal with minimal impact on speech and swallowing.
- Larger tumours: partial tongue removal with reconstruction planned into the same surgery to preserve function.
- Neck lymph nodes assessed and removed where there’s a risk of spread.
- Robotic-assisted approaches available for suitable cases.
- Speech and swallowing support built into recovery, not added on afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Function preservation is planned from the start. Smaller surgeries often have minimal impact; larger ones involve reconstruction and rehabilitation support.
No, most heal on their own. A sore past three weeks, or one that’s numb rather than painful, is what warrants a check.
Through examination, biopsy and imaging that checks how deep the tumour goes and whether nearby lymph nodes are involved.
Depends on the extent of surgery, ranging from a short recovery for small tumours to longer rehabilitation with speech and swallowing support for larger ones.
Book Your Tongue Cancer Consultation in Pune
A tongue sore that won’t heal deserves a proper diagnosis. Dr. Vidita Powle Danait provides expert tongue cancer diagnosis and surgery in Pune, with your speech and swallowing protected throughout.