Can chewing betel nuts cause tongue cancer?

Chewing betel nut may lead to tongue cancer.

Tongue cancer usually refers to malignant tumors occurring on the tongue. When this disease develops, patients may experience symptoms such as tongue pain, impaired tongue movement, difficulty eating, and speech difficulties. As the disease progresses, it may cause abnormal manifestations including swollen lymph nodes in the neck, deteriorating mental state, and rapid weight loss. The causes of tongue cancer are complex and not yet fully understood, but chewing betel nut may contribute to cancer development. This is mainly because betel nuts often contain slaked lime and chemical additives, and the betel nut itself has coarse fibrous components. The combined chemical and physical irritation from long-term chewing in the oral cavity may lead to pathological changes such as submucosal fibrosis, which can subsequently trigger tongue cancer.

After developing tongue cancer, if the patient is diagnosed at an early tumor stage, active surgical treatment under a doctor's guidance may result in a cure without affecting life expectancy. However, if the cancer recurs after treatment, it may shorten the patient's lifespan. Additionally, some patients may experience post-surgical complications such as unclear speech, facial scarring, deformities, or drooling.