Tongue cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, starts as a growth of cells on the tongue. The tongue is made up of muscles and nerves that aids in speaking, eating and swallowing. It connects to the throat. Tongue cancer commonly occurs on the surface of the tongue, and is also known as oral tongue cancer. 

What are the Warning Signs of Tongue Cancer?

Tongue cancer can present a variety of symptoms, especially in its early stages. Some common signs and symptoms of tongue cancer include:

• Changes in voice

• Pain in neck / ear

• Difficulty swallowing

• White or red patches

• A persistent sore or ulcer
• Numbness in the tongue etc.

What Leads to Tongue Cancer?

Tongue cancer can develop due to a combination of lifestyle, environmental, and biological factors. There are various reasons you have to know in details:

• Smoking

• Graft-versus-host disease

• Weakened immune system

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Human papillomavirus infection etc.