Early diagnosis is important to treating mouth cancer successfully.

Tongue cancer can present in different ways, often mimicking a 'run of the mill' ulcer, sore throat or even ear ache. It wold be useful to know how the different mouth cancers present. I would be grateful if you could answer the appropriate questions.

For those who had a tongue cancer, how did it present? Choose as many answers as did apply to your own case, (or if you are a carer: to the one you care or cared for).

Question:
Had an ulcer on tongue?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had a pain in tongue?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had a swelling on tongue?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had ear pain?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had difficulty talking?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had difficulty swallowing?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had a swelling in neck (lymph node)

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Had a white patch on tongue?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Felt vaguely unwell (tired, 'out of sorts')?

Choices:
Yes
No

Question:
Who referred you to a specialist for further investigation?

Choices:
Dentist
Doctor
2nd opinion doctor

Question:
How long after you noticed 'something not right', was it before you were referred to a specialist?

Choices:
within 2 weeks
between 2 - 4 weeks
between 5 - 8
between 2 - 4 months
more than 4 months

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

HI Dr Joshi

I don't think I answered question 8 on the Tongue Cancer survey correctly. I honestly don't know if I had a white patch on my tongue because I never looked.

Julia

Hi Vinod

Tricky to answer these surveys, isn't it? All I remember was pain in my tongue. I think I had both an ulcer and a lump, but I'm not absolutely sure. I put in the survey that I was referred by my doctor, but this was three years before my tongue cancer developed, when I got leukoplakia. When I got the cancer I was already under maxfax because of this, so was seen as soon as I rang up.

Regards
Gwyn

Thanks for your added comments. It will help us to understand all this from the patients viewpoint.

Based on 20 participants so far, the frequency of presentation as reported above is:

• Ulcer on tongue (65%)
• Pain in tongue (50%)
• White patch on tongue (40%)
• Ear pain (40%)
• Swelling in neck (35%)
• Feeling vaguely unwell (35%)
• Swelling on tongue (30%)
• Difficulty swallowing (25%)
• Difficulty talking (20%)

The delay before you were referred to a specialist after you noticed 'something not right':

• within 2 weeks (25%)
• between 2 - 4 weeks (10%)
• between 5 - 8 weeks (10%)
• between 2 - 4 months (20%)
• more than 4 months (35%)

Only 35% were referred with 1 month!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,