What You Need To Know About Tongue Cancer

The oral tongue and the base of the tongue make up the whole of your tongue. The oral tongue is about two thirds of the tongue, visible easily when you stick out your tongue. The base of the tongue is the remaining one third which is close to the throat or pharynx.  Cancer can affect any of these two parts. Those cancers which develop on the oral tongue are called oral cancers or mouth cancers while those developing on the base are called oropharyngeal cancers.

 

Types of tongue cancers

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common tongue cancer. this cancer starts in the squamous cells which are flat and thin cells, look just like skin and cover the entire area comprising of the lining of your mouth, the nose, larynx, thyroid as well as throat.

 

There are some other types of tongue cancers also and they are named after the structure or tissue of their origin.

 

 

Symptoms of tongue cancer

If you notice a stubborn red or whitish patch on your tongue or gum or tonsil, which refuses to go, it could be a symptom of cancer. A sore throat or pain while swallowing for a prolonged period of time is also a symptom of tongue cancer. An ulcer on the tongue or bleeding from the tongue for no apparent reason is also symptom of tongue cancer. Continuous pain in the tongue or jaw could also signify tongue cancer.

 

A lump on the side of your tongue which touches your teeth which bleeds at the slightest touch could also be a symptom of oral cancer. A thickening or lump in the inside of the mouth is also a symptom.  If you feel your mouth constantly devoid of any sensation or numbness which does not go, this could also be a symptom of tongue cancer.

 

The cancer of the base of the tongue usually goes undetected for a long time because it is not visible in the early stages. The symptoms are also few in the early stage. With time, this tumor causes pain, difficulty in swallowing, change in voice or the feeling of having a lump in the throat. A rare symptom is ear pain.

 

Though these symptoms don’t necessarily signify tongue cancer, it is better to consult a doctor and rule out the possibility of cancer.

 

 

Risk factors for tongue cancer

Cancer of the tongue is found more commonly in people above 40 years of age. It is also found that it is more common in men than women, probably because more men smoke and drink than women.

 

Smoking too much tobacco in the form of cigarettes, cigars or pipes is a major risk factor for tongue cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption along with tobacco can be the killer combination which leads to tongue cancer.

 

Another risk factor is the HPV virus which can get transmitted only through sexual contact.

 

 

Diagnosis of tongue cancer

Along with medical history and physical examination, you may need X-rays, CAT scan, PET scan or biopsy to determine if you have cancer.

 

 

Treatment for tongue cancer

Similar to other cancers, tongue cancer can also be treated better if detected at an early stage. Depending on the size of the cancer as well as the extent to which it has spread, your doctor may decide about the appropriate treatment.

 

Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy are the common treatments for tongue cancer. You may need one or more of the treatments. Surgery may be done to remove your tongue in part or completely. This will affect your speech and swallowing ability. Your doctors can give you detailed information about how you can adapt with these changes which are very uncomfortable but necessary to save your life.

 

 

Side effects of treatment for tongue cancer

All treatments for tongue cancers have their share of side effects. In case of surgery, your speech, eating and drinking gets affected severely. Radiation can give you a dry and sore mouth and your sense of taste will also get affected. Chemotherapy drugs have their own side effects.

 

 

Author Bio:

Sameer Gupta is a medical writer who writes well-researched, in-depth cancer articles which provide relevant information to help patients combat the deadly disease.

Categories: cancer, cancer nbsp, early stage, nbsp nbsp, oral tongue, risk factor, signify tongue, tongue, tongue cancer, tongue cancers, types

Seven Questions Your Fitness Trainer Needs the Answers To

Choosing the right professional fitness trainer is an important step in your wellness programme, but how do you know which one is right for you? As a general rule, the best trainers will – on the first meeting – sit you down and ask you lots of questions so that they can determine exactly what you need to enhance your wellbeing. Before you even touch a weight, your trainer should be able to devise the exercise programme that suits your needs best—and one that will give you the best results. To do that, he or she has to ask you the following questions:

 

1. Have you ever had health problems? There is a broad list of health problems that will affect your exercise programme, so never leave anything out, no matter how small a health concern it may seem. The main players include:

• Cardiovascular problems – Heart attacks, cardiac surgery, chest pains, high blood pressure (over 140/90), high blood cholesterol (more than 200 mg/dl), heart murmurs, arrhythmia, vascular diseases, phlebitis, stroke, and high blood fat levels.


• Breathing problems – Smoking problems, fainting, shortness of breath, bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.


• Joint and bone problems – Ankle swelling, rheumatic fever, arthritis, and orthopaedic problems.


• Miscellaneous problems – Emotional disorders, recent illnesses or hospitalisations, drug allergies, etc.

 

2. Do you have diabetes? This one deserves a special question all of its own as diabetes is a major health risk factor. Many professional trainers are not qualified to train you if you have such a risk factor, so make sure your trainer is adequately prepared to take you on.

 

3. What is your waist size? As with diabetes and other major health risk factors, many trainers aren’t certified to train obese people. You’re considered to be obese if you’re a man with a girth of 40 inches or greater or a woman with a girth of 35 inches or greater, so make sure you measure yourself before your interview, and choose a trainer who is properly trained to help you lose weight.

 

4. What is your resting heart rate? If you have an abnormal resting heart rate, this is another major risk factor that many trainers aren’t qualified to deal with. Make sure your trainer is certified to train you.

 

5. What are your goals? This is perhaps the most important question your trainer can ask you, as your goals provide a direction for your training programme. With your answer to this question, your trainer will be able to create a diet and exercise regime specifically for you and what you want out of it. In order to do a good job of this, your trainer will need to take into account both your long-term and short-term goals, so come to your interview prepared to answer this question as fully as possible.

 

6. What are your eating habits? If one of your fitness focuses is on your weight – whether you want to bulk up, slim down or maintain the healthy weight you’re at – your trainer will ask about your current eating habits to see how they can be adjusted to help you achieve your weight goals. Go to your interview knowing the number of calories you consume, the types of foods you eat, the timing and size of your meals, your number of meals per day and any supplements you’re taking.

 

7. Have you done resistance exercise before? In order to create a programme that delivers optimum results, trainers will want to know about your resistance exercise past. This means telling your trainer the type of routines you have done, what time of the day you are usually train, how long you work out for, how you target your various muscles, and what kind of exercise you prefer.

Categories: eating habits, Fitness Trainer, health problems, Heart Rate, high blood, Interview, major health, prepare, resistance exercise, risk factor, trainers aren