Hi Will, the symptoms you describe are what started us on this journey.
Kris began having trouble with his speech. Slurring his words. Not always in the beginning, but over a couple of months it became consistent. He also wasn't able to stick his tongue out straight. It deviated markedly to the right. Turns out that he had a lymph node that was pressing on the Hypoglossal nerve. This nerve inervates the tongue.
I recommend that you see your oral cancer ENT to get this issue looked at.
Wishing you all the best,
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!