Tongue Cancer: A Rare But Dangerous Disease That’s Often Mistaken for Mouth Ulcers

Tongue cancer is a rare form of cancer, but it can occur in anyone. Unfortunately, this condition is often mistaken for a common mouth ulcer or canker sore, which leads to most cases being diagnosed only at a late stage.

Check Your Tongue Now to Better Understand Your Current Health Status

One typical case in Jiangxi Province, China, involved a woman surnamed Wang, a school teacher who experienced what seemed like a persistent tongue ulcer for more than two months. Even after adjusting her diet to include cooling and anti-inflammatory foods, the ulcer remained stubbornly unchanged.

What seemed like a harmless ulcer turned out to be a hidden warning sign of cancer.

What’s more concerning is that after two months, the condition worsened, spreading and causing increased pain and burning in her tongue. This affected Ms. Wang’s ability to teach and made eating difficult.

Due to the severe pain, she eventually went to the hospital for a check-up. There, doctors suspected that the ulcer on her tongue could be cancerous and proceeded to perform a biopsy. The results confirmed that Ms. Wang had tongue cancer.

Scans revealed two tumors on her tongue. The smaller one on the right could be removed with a local excision and sutures. Unfortunately, the larger tumor on the left required doctors to surgically remove nearly half of her tongue. After six hours, the surgery was successful, and Ms. Wang is now recovering and preparing for discharge.

“What Seemed Like a Simple Ulcer Was Actually Cancer”

Reflecting on the case, the doctor said:
“Although the surgery was a success, Ms. Wang neglected the ulcer for over two months. If she had delayed further, she might have needed her entire tongue removed.”

To avoid facing such a serious situation like Ms. Wang’s, it’s important to understand the difference between common mouth ulcers and symptoms of tongue cancer.

Tongue Cancer Symptoms Are Typically Divided Into Two Stages: Early and Advanced

Detecting tongue cancer is not difficult if you pay attention to key warning signs. If you experience symptoms like the ones described above, don’t delay—see a doctor as soon as possible for early treatment.

Tips to Prevent Mouth Ulcers and Tongue Cancer:

Don’t wait until a disease is detected to begin treatment—start taking preventive action now. Here are some important tips:

• Maintain a healthy diet with plenty of water, vegetables, and fruits daily.
• Practice proper oral hygiene by brushing and rinsing your mouth after meals.
• Avoid self-medicating with painkillers, as they may worsen ulcers and delay healing.
• Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages such as beer and spirits.

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