How serious is squamous cell carcinoma on tongue?

Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common cancer types, with a survival rate of less than 5 years in half of newly diagnosed patients. Nearly half of patients who are at the stage of diagnosis already have regional lymph node metastasis.


Is squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue curable?

Tongue cancer is highly curable when it is detected early, but it can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. Over time, it may spread to other sites in the mouth, other areas of the head and neck, or other parts of the body.

Is squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue aggressive?

SQUAMOUS CELL carcinoma (SCC) of the base of the tongue (BOT) is an aggressive tumor associated with a poor prognosis. Generally, the stage of the tumor is advanced at presentation.


What is treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in tongue?

The most common treatment is surgery to remove the affected area. You might also have radiotherapy after surgery to try to prevent a cancer from coming back. This is known as adjuvant radiotherapy. Some people with early stage oral tongue cancer might have radiotherapy first.

What is the survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?

For tongue cancer, the NCI calculates the five-year relative survival rate as 82.9 percent for localized, 69.4 percent for regional and 41 percent for distant, with a combined rate of 68.1 percent for all stages.


Oral Cancer - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology



Where does squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue spread to?

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma represents the most frequent and aggressive cancer of the oral cavity. It usually metastasizes via the lymphatic system at cervical level and distant metastases are uncommon. In case of metastasis outside the neck, the lung is the organ most frequently affected (1).

How do you get squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?

Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Symptoms can include a spot or lump on your tongue that doesn't go away. The main risk factors are smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol and infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV).

How common is squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue?

In the US, 3% of cancers in men and 2% in women are oral squamous cell carcinomas, most of which occur after age 50. As with most head and neck sites, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral cancer.


Is squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue painful?

Is tongue cancer painful? Some of the first signs of tongue cancer often include a painful lump or sore on the side of the tongue that may bleed easily and resist healing. Mouth or tongue pain is also a common symptom.

What does squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue look like?

A lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth. The lump often looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red. The lump bleeds easily if bitten or touched.

What is the life expectancy of someone with squamous cell carcinoma?

In general, the squamous cell carcinoma survival rate is very high—when detected early, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. Even if squamous cell carcinoma has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the cancer may be effectively treated through a combination of surgery and radiation treatment.


What is the best treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma?

Most patients with stage I or II oral cavity cancers do well when treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy (chemo) given along with radiation (called chemoradiation) is another option. Both surgery and radiation work equally well in treating these cancers.

How concerned should I be about squamous cell carcinoma?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive. Untreated, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

Can you live a long life with squamous cell carcinoma?

Most (95% to 98%) of squamous cell carcinomas can be cured if they are treated early. Once squamous cell carcinoma has spread beyond the skin, though, less than half of people live five years, even with aggressive treatment.


How fast does squamous cell carcinoma spread?

Metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is rare. However, certain tumor and patient characteristics increase the risk of metastasis. Prior studies have demonstrated metastasis rates of 3-9%, occurring, on average, one to two years after initial diagnosis [6].

Can squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue spread to the lungs?

The lung is the most frequent site of metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [1], and this is also true for oral tongue cancers (OTCs).

Is squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth treatable?

It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread). A healthcare provider or dentist often finds oral cancer in its early stages because the mouth and lips are easy to exam.


What is the most common location for cancerous lesions on the tongue?

Several types of cancer can affect the tongue, but tongue cancer most often begins in the thin, flat squamous cells that line the surface of the tongue.

What does squamous cell carcinoma look like in the mouth?

A patch of trouble

A white or red patch inside your mouth or on your lips may be a potential sign of squamous cell carcinoma. There is a wide range in how oral cancer may look and feel. The skin may feel thicker or nodular, or there may be a persistent ulcer or erosion.

Is oral squamous cell carcinoma fast growing?

Oral cancer lesions can be often asymptomatic until they are advanced, and the progression can occur rapidly.


What are the most common causes of oral squamous cell carcinoma?

HPV-related cancers: Infection with certain high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most of the squamous cell cancers of the oropharynx (called HPV-positive cancer).

Is Stage 3 squamous cell carcinoma curable?

Squamous cell carcinoma is considered curable when caught early. Stage 3 skin cancer has spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes and, thus, is more difficult to treat. This type of cancer is treatable with surgery and other treatment options, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

How long does it take to get the results of a tongue biopsy?

This is common and usually due to the movement of muscles in the lips and tongue. The incision will heal naturally and will not require additional sutures. It will take approximately 7 days to get the results of your biopsy.


What does radiation do to the tongue?

Radiation to the mouth and throat area can cause several short-term side effects depending on where the radiation is aimed and can include: Skin changes like a sunburn or suntan in the treated area. Hoarseness. Loss of taste.

Is oral squamous cell carcinoma genetic?

Although OSCCs occur sporadically in populations, epidemiological studies have suggested hereditary risks for OSCCs8,9. However, the hereditary factors that predispose to OSCCs are largely unknown. We have encountered a family with autosomal dominant expression of oral tongue cancer.