Tongue cancer

This is a common and serious cancer that must be diagnosed early.

It mainly affected men after 40 years. Promoting the role of tobacco and alcohol is completely proved.

France is the world's leading cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract. These cancers account for 12% of all cancers (second row after lung cancer).

WARNING SIGNS

It can be:

- Discomfort when chewing or speaking,

- A persistent ear pain,

- The presence of lymph nodes in the neck, lymph nodes usually painless.

SYMPTOMS

It is an often ulceration edge of the language that does not even heal after removal of a tooth stump that is made responsible for the ulceration.

Sometimes it can be a banchâtre plate becomes increasingly hard, irregular and painless before becoming sensitive.

This may be accompanied by lymph often small, hard, driving well under the finger in the territories under jaw or in the side of the neck.

Of course the tip of the tongue can be reached and the base of the tongue behind the lingual V. This latter form is serious because often diagnosed too late.

The diagnosis is confirmed by the biopsy, that is to say, the removal and microscopic examination.

This cancer can metastasize (see METASTASES) including the lungs, liver, bones.

TREATMENT

Currently the treatment is done by physical agents is to say needles iridium or radium.

For lymph nodes, surgical dissection that can then be completed by cobalt.

The treatment is carried out after consultation the surgeon, the radiation oncologist, the oncologist and pathologist, monitoring should be very accurate for at least 10 years to seek a possible recurrence of the tumor, lymph node recurrence, another location of the upper aerodigestive tract another remote location (metastases), and any possible complications due to the effects of the treatments used.

PREVENTION

Good oral hygiene is absolutely important to avoid snags, gum infections and that throughout his life.

The elimination of tobacco and spirits considerably reduce the incidence of this cancer.

Some deficient states may promote cancer of the oral cavity (lack of protein, vitamin A, C, B and iron deficiency).

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Any damage to the edge of the language that does not heal within three weeks, at most, especially if it is accompanied by submaxillary glands or neck must consult quickly.