What is Tongue Cancer?
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the more common forms of cancer in cats. Around 10 percent of all tumors in cats occur in the mouth. While oral cancer can occur anywhere in the mouth, the tongue is a common area of occurrence. Though tongue cancer in cats does not tend to metastasize, or spread, to other areas of your cat’s body, it is an aggressive form of cancer that can grow rapidly in size. As the rapidly growing tumor damages more of your cat’s oral tissue, the available options for treatment will decrease, and prognosis for full recovery will lessen. It is therefore important that oral cancer be identified and diagnosed quickly so that appropriate treatment can begin as soon as possible.
Tongue Cancer Average Cost
From 453 quotes ranging from $3,000 - $15,000
Average Cost
$10,000
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Symptoms of Tongue Cancer in Cats
The symptoms of tongue cancer in your cat will begin as minor and quickly escalate as the tumor grows. What is a minor inconvenience to your cat one week may quickly become a hindrance for eating the next, given the small size of the oral cavity. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty eating or drinking
- Bad breath
- White growths on tongue
- Change in appearance or shape of tongue
- Tongue lolling out of mouth
- Ulcers or blood on tongue
- Indication of pain such as scratching or pawing at mouth
Causes of Tongue Cancer in Cats
Like most cancers, the exact cause of tongue cancer in cats is unknown. The most common type of tongue cancer is a type called squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer affects the epithelial, or skin, cells of the tongue. Some studies have found a significantly higher incidence of tongue cancer in cats that live in households of smokers. Environmental causes, such as exposure to tobacco smoke, are known causes of cancer in general.
Diagnosis of Tongue Cancer in Cats
Diagnosis of tongue cancer in your vat will begin with a thorough physical exam. At your initial appointment with your veterinarian you should bring a complete medical history as well as a timeline of any symptoms you’ve noticed. An approximate timeframe of worsening of symptoms compared with approximate onset of the condition can be helpful in determining how aggressive the cancer is in your cat.
During the exam your vet will pay especial attention to the area under the tongue of your cat. He or she will also examine the jaw area to see if there is uneven size or shape, which could indicate the tongue cancer has spread to the bones of the jaw area. Your veterinarian will also take x-rays to help determine whether there has been any damage to the bony areas of the jaw and head. Finally, your vet will take a biopsy of any tumor.
A biopsy is the definitive tool used to diagnose the presence of cancer. Depending on the location of the tumor and the temperament of your cat, a vet may be able to biopsy the tongue tumor with a small needle that captures a small number of cells. In other cases, your cat will need to undergo anesthesia in order for the veterinarian to gain access to the area. The biopsy will then be examined under a microscope either in your veterinarian’s office or an offsite laboratory which will identify the presence of any cancer cells.
Treatment of Tongue Cancer in Cats
Treatment of tongue cancer in your cat will depend on the severity and location of the cancer tumor and the age of your cat. There are two main methods of treatment for tongue cancer in cats.
Surgical Removal of Tumor
If the cancer has been caught early on and has not grown too large or spread throughout the mouth, your vet may be able to remove the cancer. This will involve your cat being placed under anesthesia and oral surgery being performed. The vet will work to remove as much of the tumor as possible in order to prevent the tongue cancer from returning. This may involve removing a significant portion of your cat’s tongue.
Chemotherapy and Radiation
In some cases, surgery may not be possible due to numerous factors, including tumor size and location. In these cases, your veterinarian may prescribe chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy involves administering powerful cancer-attacking drugs to your cat. Chemotherapy has many side effects and may weaken your cat’s immune system. Decreased appetite and general lethargy are other side effects of chemotherapy. Certain drugs may reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy.
Radiation is generally not a recommended treatment for tongue cancer in cats given the proximity of the tumor to the brain, eyes and other important organs that are severely sensitive to radiation.
Palliative Care
In some cases, treatment options may be reduced to palliative care, in which your cat is given medications that keep them pain free and reduce symptoms to improve their quality of life.
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Recovery of Tongue Cancer in Cats
Prognosis for recovery from tongue cancer in cats is dependent on how soon the condition is diagnosed. If caught early and successful surgical removal of the tumor occurs, a cat’s quality and length of life may be significantly improved. In many cases, treatment will only prolong the life of the cat by months. As a whole, prognosis is generally not good for advanced cases due to the rapid growth and invasive nature of this type of cancer.
Tongue Cancer Average Cost
From 453 quotes ranging from $3,000 - $15,000
Average Cost
$10,000
Top
Tongue Cancer Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
tabby siamese mix
Sophie
14 Years
25 found this helpful
25 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bad Breath
I took our Sophie in for routine teeth cleaning, as we do yearly. She also gets her Wellness Exams on a regular basis. I was absolutely stunned when the office called to say, the teeth cleaning was done, Snickers was slowly recovering; however, they found a tumor underneath Sophie's tongue. The diagnosis was probably cancer. Even before the biopsy confirmed it. The veterinarian told us that due to the fact that it had spread towards the back of the mouth and her age, he would not recommend treatment. I never noticed anything other than a little bad breath a few weeks prior but had already scheduled the teeth cleaning so mistakenly and thought that was the problem. I am still in complete shock and grief at the news!! We are trying to keep her comfortable with pain patches. A small area was shaved behind her head, but the patches keep coming off even with rubbing with alcohol first. She will only eat a brothy soft food, but has stopped drinking water and started to drool. Besides the shock of bringing in Sophie for routine teeth cleaning, is the fear as mentioned earlier if it is contagious to Snickers our other cat? if she drools a bit into her food or some saliva is secreted will that spread to Snickers?
Sophie is approximately 14-1/2 another reason the vetenarian did not recoomend treatmnet. But now, also concerned about Snickers and the drooling being contagious to her? I am just completely heartbroken and Sophie and I have had a special bond. We are seeing her veternarian again tomorrown morning to discuss what is best for Sophie as do not want to be selfish because I am not ready to let her go. Also, can these tumors not be detected during Wellness Checks or they pop up that quickly?
Sept. 2, 2018
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Mix
Gato
5 Weeks
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Bleeding Tonuge, Refusal To Eat
How much does the surgery cost?
She just hit diagnosed today and the tomur is fairly large, how much does the surgery cost?
We know it will be expensive and are starting a go-fund-me.
Aug. 24, 2018
3 Recommendations
It depends on the size and the how much of the tongue needs to be removed; also factors including your location (country? city?) and your Veterinarian will also have a bearing on the cost. For an accurate ballpark, you should ask the Veterinarian which made the diagnosis for a quotation so you have a good ballpark for your gofundme page. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 25, 2018
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tabby
Cheetah
16 Years
10 found this helpful
10 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Weight Loss
Drooling
Some Bleeding
My cat Cheetah is 16 yes old. He was having trouble eating and we took him to the vet and they found a tumor under his tongue. Location, size, age, and having up and down sugar issues makes it impossible for surgery. We are managing with pain medication but I am afraid the time is coming near. He hasnt eaten solid food for a week and canned food for 5 days. He is drinking water and milk but losing weight rapidly. He has started drooling after drinking. He still wants to be around us, sleeps by me every night. He hangs out with our dog and kids. I just am struggling with making the decision to euthanize him since he acts fine, even though he is extremely skinny but I do not want him to suffer. How do I know the time is right? I dont want to end his life sooner than it has to be. How do I know if he is in pain?
Aug. 14, 2018
10 Recommendations
It sounds like the mass is causing pain whilst eating and drinking, if Cheetah cannot eat and has difficulty drinking the time will be limited; I cannot tell you the best time to think about the unthinkable as you need to be comfortable with the decision. However, I would recommend looking at quality of life and seeing how well Cheetah is doing compared with a month or two ago; also discuss with your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 15, 2018
I am writing to see how little Cheetah is doing? I feel your heartbreak as this diagnosis was totally unexpected for Sophie after routine dental cleaning and she was only suddenly given two weeks to a month. She is still eating and drinking a bit but I can tell it is hard for her as she tips her head to one side and hear her as it is hard for to chew. Also is drooling excessively. I made an appt for her tomorrow morning as even though she is eating I feel she is suffering. Am I wrong?
Sept. 10, 2018
Yvonne G.
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Exotic Persian
Bambina
12 Years
4 found this helpful
4 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Halitosis
Just find out that sadly my 12y cat Bambina has squamous cell carcinoma and a tumor underneath her tongue that cannot be removed now due to location and size. My vet suggested chemotherapy to see if the tumor decreases and we can perform surgery, but they said she would have much of her tongue - if not all of it - removed. She is Already well addapted to an esophaegic tube, has no methastasis and good general condition. So can a cat live without the tongue?
July 26, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
I am sorry that that is happening to Bambina. While I think that the surgery is possible, I'm not sure that her life afterwards would be very pleasant. I hope that you are able to keep her comfortable a while longer.
July 27, 2018
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Exotic Persian
Bambina
12 Years
7 found this helpful
7 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Cancer, Halitosis
Just find out that sadly my 12y cat Bambina has squamous cell carcinoma and a tumor underneath her tongue that cannot be removed now due to location and size. My vet suggested chemotherapy to see if the tumor decreases and we can perform surgery, but they said she would have much of her tongue - if not all of it - removed. She is alreay well addapted to an esophaegic tube, has no methastasis and good general condition. So can a cat live without the tongue?
July 26, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
7 Recommendations
I'm sure that a cat can live without a tongue, but I'm not sure that that surgery would be able to remove all of the cells, and the cancer may come back. I'm not sure that that is a kind procedure to do.
July 27, 2018
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Persian
Snow
5 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Cancer Dental Diseas
My cat Have Blqck tumour under her tongue and tongue comes to one side and there is a black liquid in mouth and drooling with blood which have bad smell nothing eats and drink since 5 days his teeth are damaged Is this a oral cancer?
Tongue Cancer Average Cost
From 453 quotes ranging from $3,000 - $15,000
Average Cost
$10,000
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
