CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer is on the rise, and doctors say awareness of symptoms is critical as no routine screening test exists. According to the National Cancer Institute, this form of cancer is sexually transmitted and can surface decades after an initial HPV infection.
Dr. Iftekhar Ahmad, medical director for the Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, says HPV-related throat cancers are becoming more common.
“These two cancers are unrelated to each other, not just anatomically, but more importantly, just by the type of tumor they are,” he says when explaining the difference between lymphomas and HPV-related tumors. “Lymphomas act very differently than do squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. They’re on different ends of the spectrum.”
Symptoms of tongue cancer can include sores that do not heal, tissue discoloration, difficulty swallowing, a persistent sore throat, or lumps in the mouth or neck, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Dr. Ahmad adds that warning signs also include “discomfort in the mouth, throat, the tongue, a growth on your tongue, on your gums, inside your cheeks, something that doesn’t go away, any type of bleeding in older individuals who have dentures.”
Risk increases with tobacco and alcohol use, and men over age 50 are twice as likely to be diagnosed. Prognosis is often good when caught early, and doctors say HPV-related cancers tend to respond well to treatment.
Dr. Ahmad emphasizes the importance of paying attention to persistent symptoms.
“I think the take-home message is know yourself,” he says. “Don’t ignore a consistent issue that’s not going away in the oral cavity or in the throat region. And make sure you’re getting regular checkups with your primary care provider as well as your dentist.”
To learn more about tongue and throat cancer, check out OSF Healthcare’s full press release on the topic.