What is the cure rate for early stage tongue cancer

Tongue cancer causes patients to suffer physically and mentally. The treatment process includes chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tongue, etc. The patient's family bears a huge amount of treatment costs, which directly affects the family's quality of life and causes the family to suffer a huge disaster. Let's take a closer look at the cure rate of early tongue cancer.

Experts say that tongue cancer relapses mostly within 5 years after surgery. The recurrence site is mostly at the tumor site or the neck, about 40% of which occurs at the original surgical site and 60% occurs at the cervical lymph nodes. Therefore, tongue cancer patients should pay special attention to whether there is a palpable mass at the original surgical site or the neck. The prevention of tongue cancer lies in reducing external stimuli, actively treating precancerous lesions, and improving the body's resistance to disease. With the improvement of modern treatment technology, the treatment of oral cancer has achieved better results. The cure rate of early tongue cancer is quite high, with a five-year survival rate of 70% to 80%, and T1 cases are as high as 90%. The tongue is an easy part of the mouth to observe. If there is any abnormality or discomfort, the patient should be vigilant and go to the hospital for examination.

Tongue cancer is prone to early metastasis to cervical lymph nodes, and the metastasis rate is high. This is mainly because the tongue has relatively rich lymphatic vessels and blood circulation, and the mechanical movement of the tongue is relatively frequent, which are all factors that promote the metastasis of tongue cancer.

For early-stage tongue cancer, surgery is generally recommended, with stage I or II neck dissection performed in the neck; for advanced cases, generally speaking, induction chemotherapy is performed first, followed by surgery, followed by radiotherapy. For tongue cancer involving the floor of the mouth and mandible, a combined tongue, mandible, and neck lymph node dissection is also performed on one side. If there is metastasis to the opposite side, bilateral neck lymph node dissection is required.

"The earlier tongue cancer is treated, the better." In the past, there was no way to repair the tongue after a glossectomy, so many patients lost their speech function after the operation. Now, the tongue can be repaired at the same time as the tongue is removed, and the repaired tongue is almost the same as a normal tongue.

Since tongue cancer has a high recurrence rate, it is recommended to have a follow-up examination every 3 months within one year after surgery; every 6 months within 2 to 3 years after surgery; and every year after 5 years. Facing tongue cancer, as long as you have the confidence to defeat it, maintain a good mood, and actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment plan, you will definitely be able to defeat cancer, because victory always belongs to the strong!