If you find you are unable to move your tongue around easily, you may have a tumor. If the tumor is benign, you may not have noticed it as it’s grown, since a benign tumor can take years to develop. Some people may even dismiss the growth as a normal sign of aging.
A benign tumor usually starts out as an almost imperceptible lesion that is lighter in color than the tongue. It tends to grow slowly over the course of several years. Though it may occasionally bleed, it won’t hurt.
If the growth has appeared suddenly, it’s likely the tumor is malignant, and it can quickly spread to other parts of the mouth and body. Like a benign tumor on the tongue, a malignant tumor is not painful, and in its early stages it resembles a benign tumor. However, it grows quickly and can become ulcerous and bleed frequently. A malignant tumor can also stiffen the tongue to the point where it is almost impossible to eat and talk. The cause of a malignant tumor on the tongue is usually a long history of pipe, cigar, or cigarette smoking.
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