Does tongue cancer mean the tongue has to be removed? Will I still be able to speak?

Tongue cancer does not automatically mean removing the whole tongue. 1) When it is found early, only the area around the lesion is removed, and in many cases speech and eating are not greatly affected. 2) If a larger area has to be removed, skin and tissue from the arm or leg is grafted to reconstruct the shape of the tongue. 3) After surgery, speech rehabilitation helps restore pronunciation and swallowing. The smaller the area removed, the better function is preserved, so early detection matters. If you have an ulcer or a firm lump on your tongue that has not healed in 2 weeks, please do not postpone an examination.