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Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Estimated New Cases in 2024 19,360

% of All New Cancer Cases 1.0%

Estimated Deaths in 2024 3,320

% of All Cancer Deaths 0.5%

5-Year
Relative Survival

70.4% 2014–2020
Year Rate of New Cases — SEER 8 Rate of New Cases — SEER 12 Death Rate — U.S. 5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend Observed Modeled Trend
1975 2.22 2.28 - - 1.01 1.03 40.63% 38.04%
1976 2.24 2.29 - - 1.00 1.01 39.42% 39.03%
1977 2.05 2.30 - - 0.94 0.99 37.86% 40.02%
1978 2.16 2.31 - - 0.97 0.97 43.33% 41.01%
1979 2.53 2.33 - - 0.98 0.95 45.44% 42.00%
1980 2.31 2.34 - - 0.91 0.93 43.49% 42.98%
1981 2.40 2.35 - - 0.91 0.92 49.48% 43.96%
1982 2.24 2.36 - - 0.91 0.90 38.51% 44.93%
1983 2.63 2.37 - - 0.89 0.88 45.28% 45.90%
1984 2.51 2.38 - - 0.90 0.87 51.03% 46.86%
1985 2.64 2.39 - - 0.85 0.85 50.21% 47.82%
1986 2.32 2.40 - - 0.85 0.84 52.84% 48.77%
1987 2.59 2.42 - - 0.80 0.82 47.39% 49.71%
1988 2.22 2.43 - - 0.82 0.81 46.01% 50.64%
1989 2.53 2.44 - - 0.82 0.79 48.03% 51.57%
1990 2.48 2.45 - - 0.80 0.78 53.28% 52.49%
1991 2.16 2.46 - - 0.78 0.76 52.71% 53.40%
1992 2.48 2.47 2.44 2.48 0.74 0.75 44.85% 54.30%
1993 2.61 2.49 2.53 2.49 0.74 0.73 54.13% 55.19%
1994 2.49 2.50 2.52 2.49 0.70 0.72 55.96% 56.07%
1995 2.37 2.51 2.43 2.50 0.71 0.71 54.25% 56.94%
1996 2.49 2.52 2.56 2.50 0.67 0.69 55.40% 57.80%
1997 2.52 2.53 2.46 2.51 0.69 0.68 60.75% 58.65%
1998 2.53 2.55 2.55 2.52 0.66 0.67 55.68% 59.49%
1999 2.44 2.60 2.48 2.52 0.63 0.66 55.46% 60.32%
2000 2.48 2.66 2.50 2.57 0.63 0.64 63.38% 61.14%
2001 2.60 2.71 2.59 2.63 0.64 0.64 59.97% 61.95%
2002 2.99 2.77 2.86 2.68 0.65 0.64 59.31% 62.74%
2003 2.84 2.83 2.68 2.74 0.64 0.63 62.95% 63.53%
2004 3.07 2.89 2.91 2.79 0.63 0.63 67.58% 64.30%
2005 2.80 2.95 2.75 2.85 0.64 0.63 62.21% 65.06%
2006 3.06 3.02 2.88 2.91 0.61 0.62 66.54% 65.81%
2007 3.16 3.08 2.98 2.97 0.63 0.62 68.47% 66.55%
2008 3.20 3.15 3.09 3.03 0.61 0.62 68.86% 67.28%
2009 3.26 3.21 3.16 3.09 0.59 0.61 70.70% 67.99%
2010 3.19 3.28 3.05 3.15 0.62 0.61 68.99% 68.69%
2011 3.41 3.35 3.22 3.22 0.59 0.61 73.08% 69.38%
2012 3.37 3.42 3.24 3.28 0.62 0.62 72.51% 70.06%
2013 3.38 3.50 3.25 3.35 0.60 0.62 68.81% 70.73%
2014 3.66 3.57 3.43 3.42 0.64 0.63 71.10% 71.39%
2015 3.91 3.65 3.60 3.49 0.65 0.64 73.02% 72.03%
2016 3.85 3.73 3.47 3.50 0.69 0.65 72.54% 72.66%
2017 3.77 3.81 3.46 3.50 0.68 0.66 - 73.28%
2018 4.14 3.89 3.64 3.51 0.65 0.67 - 73.89%
2019 3.63 3.97 3.37 3.51 0.65 0.68 - 74.49%
2020 3.49 4.05 3.25 3.52 0.68 0.69 - 75.08%
2021 3.92 4.14 3.57 3.52 0.72 0.70 - 75.66%
2022 - - - - 0.70 0.71 - 76.22%

New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality.
All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted.
Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.
The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data

New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of tongue cancer was 3.6 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 0.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2017–2021 cases and 2018–2022 deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 0.4 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with tongue cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2018–2021 data, excluding 2020 due to COVID.

Survival Statistics

How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Tongue Cancer?

Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

70.4%

5-Year
Relative Survival

70.4%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020. Gray figures represent those who have died from tongue cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Additional Information

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier tongue cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For tongue cancer, 28.2% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized tongue cancer is 86.4%.

Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Tongue Cancer
Stage Percent of Cases 5-Year Relative Survival
Localized
Confined to Primary Site		 28% 86.4%
Regional
Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes		 56% 70.1%
Distant
Cancer Has Metastasized		 11% 39.7%
Unknown
Unstaged		 5% 57.0%

SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2014–2020, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Combined Summary Stage

Additional Information

New Cases and Deaths

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, tongue cancer is relatively rare.

Common Types of Cancer Estimated New
Cases 2024		 Estimated
Deaths 2024
1. Breast Cancer (Female) 310,720 42,250
2. Prostate Cancer 299,010 35,250
3. Lung and Bronchus Cancer 234,580 125,070
4. Colorectal Cancer 152,810 53,010
5. Melanoma of the Skin 100,640 8,290
6. Bladder Cancer 83,190 16,840
7. Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer 81,610 14,390
8. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 80,620 20,140
9. Uterine Cancer 67,880 13,250
10. Pancreatic Cancer 66,440 51,750
- - -
19. Tongue Cancer 19,360 3,320

Tongue cancer represents 1.0% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

1.0%

In 2024, it is estimated that there will be 19,360 new cases of tongue cancer and an estimated 3,320 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

Tongue cancer is more common in men than women. Tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, and infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV 16, are associated with this cancer. The rate of new cases of tongue cancer was 3.6 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Tongue Cancer
Males
All Races 5.4
Hispanic 2.8
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 4.2
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 3.0
Non-Hispanic Black 3.1
Non-Hispanic White 6.8
Females
All Races 2.0
Hispanic 1.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 2.0
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 1.7
Non-Hispanic Black 0.9
Non-Hispanic White 2.4

SEER 22 2017–2021, Age-Adjusted

Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Tongue Cancer
Age Range Percent of New Cases
<20 0.1%
20–34 1.7%
35–44 3.5%
45–54 13.1%
55–64 31.0%
65–74 31.6%
75–84 14.6%
>84 4.4%

Tongue cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65–74.

Median Age
At Diagnosis

65

SEER 22 2017–2021, All Races, Both Sexes

Who Dies From This Cancer?

For tongue cancer, death rates increase with age. Men are more likely than women to die of this cancer. The death rate was 0.7 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2018–2022 deaths, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Tongue Cancer
Males
All Races 1.0
Hispanic 0.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 0.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 0.6
Non-Hispanic Black 0.8
Non-Hispanic White 1.1
Females
All Races 0.4
Hispanic 0.2
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native 0.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander 0.3
Non-Hispanic Black 0.2
Non-Hispanic White 0.5

U.S. 2018–2022, Age-Adjusted

Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Tongue Cancer
Age Range Percent of Deaths
<20 0.0%
20–34 0.8%
35–44 2.2%
45–54 7.9%
55–64 24.7%
65–74 31.0%
75–84 22.0%
>84 11.3%

The percent of tongue cancer deaths is highest among people aged 65–74.

Median Age
At Death

69

U.S. 2018–2022, All Races, Both Sexes

Trends in Rates

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new tongue cancer cases have been rising on average 2.1% each year over 2012–2021. Age-adjusted death rates have been rising on average 1.4% each year over 2013–2022. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival

Interactive Statistics with SEER*Explorer

With SEER*Explorer, you can...
  • Create custom graphs and tables
  • Download data and images
  • Share links to results

SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.

Explore Additional Tongue Cancer Statistics

More About This Cancer

Cancer and the Tongue

Figure: Head and Neck Anatomy

Figure: Head and neck anatomy; shows paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, pharynx (including nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx), oral cavity, tongue, salivary glands, and larynx.

Figure: Oral Cavity Anatomy

Figure: Oral cavity anatomy; shows lip, gingiva (gum), teeth, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, tonsil, retromolar trigone, buccal mucosa (lip and cheek lining), tongue (front two-thirds), and floor of mouth.

The tongue is an organ in the mouth used for tasting, talking, swallowing, and chewing. Tongue cancer occurs when cells in the tongue grow abnormally forming a cancerous (malignant) growth or tumor.

Tongue cancer is a type of head and neck cancer.

Cancer that beings in the front two-thirds of the tongue, or the part you can "stick out", is a type of oral cavity cancer. When the cancer begins in the back of the tongue, it its considered a type of oropharyngeal or throat cancer.

Additional Information

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about tongue cancer.

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Tongue Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/tongue.html

These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.

The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2024 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.

Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.