Early cancers of the tongue can be effectively treated either by surgery or by radiation therapy. The treatment modality is to be decided by the patient after understanding the nuances of the two lines of treatment from the Oncologist.  

I will be discussing the surgical option here, which involves the removal of the affected part along with the normal tissue around it.  The location of the cancerous ulcer or tumor may impact the functional status of the patient.

If the front part of the tongue is involved and is removed by surgery then a patient may experience some difficulty in articulating sounds such as  “ta” or “s” etc. unless reconstruction is also done simultaneously. But this articulation problem is not permanent as the body readjusts.  If the back part of the tongue is removed and not reconstructed then it is may impact swallowing, as well as the articulation of sounds like ‘ga’ or ‘kaa’ as these are pronounced by touching of the upper part of the back of the tongue to the palate.

The front part of the tongue is used mainly in speaking and the back part is used mainly for swallowing, although there is always overlap so if any part is removed, there is some effect on both these functions. Therefore, whatever operation is to be performed, whether it is the removal of a small part of the tongue or a large part, or the front or the back part, it would be appropriate for the patient to discuss with the surgical oncologist if the disability is expected to be temporary or permanent.

After surgery a feeding tube is inserted into the stomach through the nose in order to allow healing of the tongue. It is advisable to discuss with the doctor about how long the feeding tube will be kept in place and with the dietician about the nutritional composition. Once healing takes place and the function of swallowing recovers then a patient is able to go back to a normal diet in a phased manner.