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.

Can squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue be cured?

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.

What is the life expectancy of someone with tongue cancer?

For tongue cancers:

almost 80 out of 100 (almost 80%) survive their cancer for a year or more after diagnosis. almost 60 out of 100 (almost 60%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

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 serious is squamous cell carcinoma on the 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.

Squamous cell carcinoma survivor shares her story

Does tongue cancer spread quickly?

Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly. Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to most cases of oral cancer. Heavy alcohol use also increases the risk for oral cancer.

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.

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.

What kills squamous cell carcinoma?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. If squamous cell carcinoma spreads to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as targeted drug therapy and radiation therapy.

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.

Can you fully recover from tongue cancer?

If the cancer has not spread beyond the mouth or the part of your throat at the back of your mouth (oropharynx) a complete cure may be possible using surgery alone. If the cancer is large or has spread to your neck, a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be needed.

Where does tongue cancer spread to first?

The most common sites where mouth and oropharyngeal cancer spread to include: the lymph nodes in the neck. the bones. the lungs.

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.

Is squamous cell carcinoma ever fatal?

Untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin can destroy nearby healthy tissue, spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, and may be fatal, although this is uncommon.

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 do I know if my squamous cell carcinoma has metastasized?

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma is often referred to as a neck cancer because it tends to travel to the lymph nodes in the neck and around the collarbone. Because of this, signs of metastasis may include a painful or tender lump in the neck or a sore throat that doesn't improve or go away.

How do you know if squamous cell carcinoma is spreading?

Ask your doctor if your lymph nodes will be tested. Basal and squamous cell cancers don't often spread to other parts of the body. But if your doctor thinks your skin cancer might spread, you might need imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans.

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.

Is tongue cancer always fatal?

In general, early diagnosis and treatment lead to better outcomes. 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.

Do you need chemo for tongue cancer?

Chemotherapy may be used along with radiation therapy to treat locally advanced tongue cancer. For tongue cancer that has recurred or has spread to other areas of the body, chemotherapy may be recommended to slow the growth of the cancer.

What does Stage 1 tongue cancer look like?

The most common early symptom of tongue cancer is a sore on your tongue that doesn't heal and that bleeds easily. You might also notice mouth or tongue pain. Other symptoms of tongue cancer include: a red or white patch on your tongue that persists.

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.

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).

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].

What foods fight squamous cell carcinoma?

Food That Lower Your Skin Cancer Risk

Vitamin C – Citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and leafy greens. Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids – Fatty fish, like mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna, and salmon. Vitamin D – Milk, cheese, and vitamin D-fortified orange juice.