I have a bump on the side of my tongue way in back..it is mostly normal tongue color with a small white center. It is semi firm, but not rock hard. It feels between a water balloon and a grape. It is probably about the size of a pencil eraser and has been there for at least 2 months. I’m wondering if bumps from tongue cancer are usually hard or can they be soft? I’m hoping someone can speak from experience. What I’ve read is that they are generally hard. I know I should get a biopsy but I keep hearing how painful they are and do not want to do anything unnecessarily. Thank you.

Sam,

Anytime you have a bump, sore or abnormality on your tongue for that period of time you should have it checked out and a biopsy done if necessary. The biopsy does not hurt much and the tongue heals quiclkly. I have had two biopsies and it only takes a few seconds, it will be over before you know it. Better safe then sorry. Don't put it off!

Kent...

Please go get it checked out by an ENT or oral surgeon. You will worry about it until you get an answer, waiting doesn't do you any good. I have had two biopsies on my tongue, they were not too painful, it bled some but no stitches were necessary, it will heal quickly. I don't think mine was particularly hard but was a sore that wouldn't heal and was definitely white. Good luck and hopefully it's not cancer! If it is come on back and everyone will give you support and advice.

So Im just seeing this and dont know if you have had it checked, but I speak from experience. The lump for me was under my tongue in the back. The only real pain discomfort I had was a intermittent earache. The lump wasnt painful or rock hard. I just knew it looked out of place. Fingers crossed yours is benign. Mine wasnt, and had 25% of my tongue removed in April.

Dear SSL

I strongly recommend going to see your Head and Neck doctor (used to be called Ear, Nose, Throat). The guideline is get any sore that lasts more that 2-3 weeks checked out. I was lazy and ended up being stage 4 by the time I went in nearly a year after I noticed something. Sorry to be a little dramatic but I sure wish I had asked a group like this after a month or so. They would have scared me into going much earlier and likely saved me a long but successful surgery and radiation treatment.

BTW, the biopsy barely hurt. They put a numbing agent on the spot before taking a tiny chunk out of the middle of the sore.

Let us know how it goes.

Stay safe and keep the faith,
Nels

I’ve had 2 ENTs “look” at it in the past year, one of whole is a head and neck cancer specialist. Both said they couldn’t see it but they could feel it. Neither was concerned. I was told there is nothing to biopsy and the cancer specialist said it was not hard enough to be cancer. The mouth issue has been unchanged for over a year however in the last couple months I’ve developed a neck lump on the same side as the tongue issue. Pretty scary but I had a negative neck ultrasound about a month ago. I’m not totally convinced it didn’t miss something and think I’m going to try to get back into the ENT for further investigation...the ultrasound was not ordered by the ENT; have not seen the ENT in over 6 months.

It’s been unchanged for a year. It looks “relatively normal.” The drs told me it is an enlarged sublingual gland and no biopsy was needed. That was over 6 months ago. I’ve since developed a neck lump on the same side....the ent who saw the tongue issue does not know about this bump. I had a negative ultrasound on my neck (ordered by a different doctor) about this but I’m worried it missed something.

Glad to hear you have stayed on top of it. Happy Holidays SSL!

Mine is also under my tongue/on the side of my tongue, way in the back by my molars. I’ve had it for over a year and have seen 2 ents who both said they could feel the lump but not see it. Both were totally unconcerned and said a biopsy was unnecessary. I’ve had the tongue bump for over a year and I’ve recently developed a neck lump on the same side, since October. I had a negative neck cat scan with contrast which showed nothing in my mouth or neck. The ent actually told me “he make up what’s not there” & basically told me to stop worrying. I’m really torn as to whether I should drop or push the issue. Was your lump smooth? Ulcerated? How was the mucosa over it? Mine looks relatively “normal”. One of the ents I saw is actually a head & neck cancer specialist(the one that basically told me to stop worrying but he did look thru my entire ct scan) but I am still really struggling with this.

The mucosa over my bump has been very pink/red a lot lately...