Following the announcement by comedian Dave Courier, Diagnosis of tongue cancerexperts share what you need to know about the disease.
Courier, 66, announced in an interview Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with early stage P16 cancer, or oropharyngeal tongue cancer.
“Oropharyngeal” refers to cancer that starts at the base of the tongue. “P16” indicates that it is related to HPV (human papillomavirus).
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The news comes just months after the “Full House” star announced his battle with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Tongue cancer is “totally unrelated” to the initial cancer. he said “today” In an interview.
“I went in for a routine PET scan and something flared up on the PET scan,” Coulier said. “I was diagnosed with P16 squamous cell carcinoma at the base of my tongue.”
The comedian announced on April 1 that he was cancer-free. non-hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
“It’s a shock to the system to go through chemotherapy and have that sense of relief that, oh, I’m cured, and then you get tested and now you’re told you have a different type of cancer,” he said.
Courier revealed that he plans to take 35 courses. radiation therapy.
According to the National Cancer Institute, tongue cancer can affect the front of the tongue (oral cavity) or the base/back of the tongue (oropharynx). Risk factors and prognosis can vary greatly depending on where the cancer originates.
According to the NCI, approximately 20,040 new cases of tongue cancer and 3,270 deaths are expected in 2025. (These numbers include only cancers that occur in the front two-thirds of the tongue.)
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According to the American Cancer Society, if all oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers (all mouth and throat cancers combined) are included, that number will rise to 59,660 new cases and approximately 12,770 deaths in 2025.
The overall 5-year survival rate for tongue cancer is 71%.
Studies have shown that cases have increased in the United States in recent years, affecting nearly all age groups and races.
“This increase is associated with a dramatic increase in HPV,” FOX News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Mark Siegel told FOX News Digital. “It can spread, but if it’s HPV-related, the prognosis is 80-90% curable.”
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Dr. George Semenuk, a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope in Newport Beach, Calif., agreed that tongue cancer is one of the fastest-growing head and neck cancers doctors are seeing.
“Early detection is key,” he told Fox News Digital.
Semeniuk said early warning signs of tongue cancer include persistent pain or ulcers on the tongue, pain when swallowing, lumps, and changes in the way you speak.
“Anything that lasts more than two weeks, Evaluation by experts” he advised.
Dr. Siegel added, “Watch for sores that don’t heal or difficulty swallowing. See your doctor, ENT, or dentist.”
Other common signs include a lump or thickening of the tongue. Red or white spots on the tongue or mucous membranes of the mouth. Persistent soreness in the tongue, mouth, jaw, and throat. According to multiple health sources, symptoms include numbness and burning sensation in the tongue.
Affected people may have difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking, and may also experience unexpected bleeding in the area.
If the cancer has spread, the patient may notice a lump in the neck (due to swollen lymph nodes), pain in the ear (usually on one side), and a stiff or swollen jaw.
The biggest risk factors for tongue cancer are: tobacco usehigh alcohol intake and HPV, Semenuk pointed out.
“Cases are also increasing in younger people who have never smoked, highlighting the role that HPV can play,” he said. “Long-standing oral inflammation, weakened immune system, or poor oral hygiene You may also be at higher risk. ”
According to experts, standard treatment for tongue cancer varies greatly depending on the stage of the disease and where it occurs.
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“Treatment depends on the stage and location of the tumor, but often Combination of surgery and radiation therapy And in more advanced cases, chemotherapy or targeted therapy is given,” Semenuk said.
“At City of Hope, we also employ minimally invasive surgical approaches and precision guided therapies to preserve speech and swallowing as much as possible.”
Professor Siegel pointed out that tongue cancer tumors tend to be more responsive. surgical excisionradiation and chemotherapy.
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“When tongue cancer is diagnosed early, the prognosis is much better. If it’s caught early, the cure rate can be quite high,” Semenuk told Fox News Digital.
“That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to changes in your mouth and receive prompt treatment. Regular dental checkups and HPV vaccination It is also an important step in mitigating risk. ”
