Complications of Tongue Cancer

Overview

Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of the tongue. Tongue cancer can lead to various problems that can affect a person's mouth health. Some common problems of tongue cancer include:

• Oral mucositis: This is when the lining inside the mouth becomes swollen and sore. It can cause pain and make it hard to eat or speak.
  • To help prevent oral mucositis:
    • Take care of your mouth by brushing your teeth gently with a soft toothbrush
    • Use a mild mouthwash that your dentist suggests
    • Avoid spicy or acidic foods that can make the mouth feel worse.
  • If oral mucositis happens, your doctor may:
    • Prescribe medicine to help with pain
    • Recommend special mouth rinses to relieve symptoms
• Infection: Tongue cancer can weaken the immune system, making it easier to get infections. Bacteria in the mouth can cause infections when the immune system is not as strong. To prevent infections, keep your mouth clean by brushing and flossing on a regular basis. If an infection happens, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications to treat it.
• Salivary gland problems: Radiation therapy for tongue cancer can damage the salivary glands, which produces saliva, causing dry mouth. This can make it difficult to eat, speak, and swallow comfortably.
  • To help prevent salivary gland problems:
    • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
    • Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they can worsen dryness
    • Chew sugar-free gum or use saliva substitutes to help keep the mouth moist.
  • If problems continue:
    • Your doctor may recommend medicine or other treatments to relieve symptoms.
• Change in taste: Tongue cancer can change a person's sense of taste (dysgeusia), causing a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth or making it harder to taste flavors. Here are some tips to help manage taste changes:
  • Keep your mouth clean by brushing and flossing on a regular basis
  • Avoid strong-smelling foods that may worsen taste changes
  • Try different seasonings and spices to bring out the flavor in foods
  • If taste changes continue, consider talking with a dietician or nutritionist for more advice.
• Pain: Tongue cancer can cause pain in the mouth and throat area due to swelling and irritation. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may help relieve mild pain. However, it is important to talk with your doctor before taking any medication for pain relief.

To prevent or manage these problems if they happen, it’s important to work closely with your healthcare professional team. This team may include oncologists (cancer doctors), dentists and dental specialists (for mouth health), dietitians (for nutrition support), and other professionals trained to manage mouth issues during cancer treatment. They will create a care plan that fits your needs, offering advice, prevention tips, and treatments for any issues that may come up.

Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional side effect information.