Is painless tongue ulcer a sign of cancer?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thien Quang - Internal Oncologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital

Many people often mistake tongue ulcers as just a sign of common canker sores. However, a persistent tongue ulcer is most likely a symptom of a serious medical condition. In recent years, the rate of people with tongue cancer has been increasing - and tongue ulcers are one of the telltale signs of this disease.

Up to 20% of the world's population often suffers from canker sores. Canker sores are considered a mild, benign disease. The disease can be treated quickly with some specific drugs, improved diet and proper rest.
Signs of canker sores are blisters that appear on the tongue, lips, gums or inner cheeks. When the impact is strong, the blisters burst, forming sores. The shape of the sores is usually round or oval, the base is white or pale yellow, and the border is bright red.

Canker sores cause discomfort, pain and difficulty for patients when eating, drinking and living. Our self-healing mechanism will quickly heal the ulcer, regenerate and heal the injury.
However, if the ulcer in the tongue persists, it can also be one of the early signs of tongue cancer. This is a relatively complex and serious disease. According to statistics, oral cavity cancer accounts for about 10-12% of all cancers. Tongue cancer accounts for 52% of all oral cancers.
Tongue cancer can be completely treated if detected early. However, when detected at the latest stage, the 5-year survival rate is only about 8%. This data shows how dangerous this disease is.
In the early stages, we often find it difficult to detect tongue cancer. Most of the symptoms of the disease are easily confused with canker sores. Therefore, patients often seek medical attention when the disease begins to progress to more severe stages.
However, if knowledge is disseminated, patients can distinguish between symptoms of canker sores and symptoms of tongue cancer more easily.

2.1. Symptoms of tongue cancer in the early stages

In the early stages, signs of tongue cancer are relatively similar to canker sores. The oral cavity, especially the tongue, shows signs of prolonged sores but no pain.
Patients often feel that the tongue part is plugged by a foreign object causing discomfort. Some people also have symptoms of swollen lymph nodes in the lower jaw or chin area.
2.2 Symptoms of tongue cancer in the full stage After the primary stage, the patient will feel the abnormality more clearly in the tongue area. The pain begins to persist when chewing, speaking, especially when consuming hot, spicy foods. Prolonged ulceration produces necrotic lesions, causing foul-smelling breath and blood-stained saliva.
At this point, sores on the tongue no longer appear alone. They develop into large ulcers with severe damage. Ulcers form pus-blood, jagged shape, easy to bleed when there is a light impact. Sometimes, the patient also has a tight jaw, making it difficult to speak and swallow.

2.3. Symptoms of tongue cancer in the period of strong development Tongue cancer develops to the late stage, greatly affecting the health and life of the patient. Patients in this stage lose weight markedly because of pain and can not accept much food taken by mouth.
Tumor-like lesions begin to protrude to the surface of the tongue in hard patches. At this time, the blade part is stiff and difficult to operate. Pain and bleeding occur continuously.
Tongue cancer can be treated with chemotherapy and radiation. In case the tumor grows quickly and is many, the patient must have surgery to remove part of the tongue to save life. Therefore, when there are abnormal signs in the oral cavity, such as tongue ulcers but no pain and lasting, it is necessary to quickly go to hospital units for examination.
Currently, at Vinmec International General Hospital, there are General Health Checkup and Cancer Screening services, helping you to quickly detect any health problems to quickly treat and prevent complications. bad happens.