Hmm. I do not think you can touch the base of your tongue. It is a long way down, deep in the throat. Your fingers would have to be at least 10 inches long.
Kris's tumour was on the right side of the BOT and had metastasised to the right tonsil and 1 lymph node. He was completely unaware of it. Only when he developed slurred speech as a result of the node pressing on his hypoglossal nerve did we know anything was amiss.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!