Tongue Cancer

Overview

Dentists are often the first to detect tongue cancer during routine exams or oral cancer screenings. Or your primary care physician (PCP) may notice signs during an exam for another condition.

To gather more information, your provider may:

Shine a fluorescent light into your mouth to see if it reveals any abnormal tissue.
Use an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light) to look at your mouth and throat.
Check for swollen lymph nodes.

If a healthcare provider sees visual signs of tongue cancer, they’ll recommend a biopsy. During this procedure, they’ll take a small sample of affected tissue. They’ll send it to a lab, where a pathologist will examine the tissue and look for cancer cells.

Your provider may also order imaging tests like:

CT (computed tomography) scans.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

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Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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