Hi... My sister is a heavy smoker as well as an alcoholic... She has developed a large painful lump on her tongue which is preventing her from speaking properly making it difficult for her to at and swallow as it is painful... Can anybody tell me what this could be... I have been trying to get her to visit the doctor but she is refusing to at the moment!!

I have done some research and from what I found out this is most likely a tumor, cancerous or not. Cancerous tumors mostly appear on the sides of the tongue and appear in smokers much more than non smokers. Painful lumps is also an indicator of cancer that is not benign! It is possible that is benign and NOT cancerous but this is something that she needs to get to the doctor ASAP to find out!!

You really need to convince your sister to get to the doctor because the pain will not go away and from what I have read this has to be caused by a tumor which can or cannot be cancerous but is most likely cancerous if she is a smoker!! It can also be caused by a bad infection but this is rare.. I don't want to scare but your sister has over a 50% chance that she has cancer and she needs to go to the doctor to have it tested and removed immediately!!

Hi Brandy... You have said exactly what I was thinking... I have told my sister the same... I had breast cancer and had my breasts removed late last year so I know the importance of early medical intervention... The trouble is with being an alcoholic my sister tends to live in oblivion most of the time and doesn't want to face up to anything in her life... I will keep talking to her and try to persuade her to visit her gp as soon as possible... Thank you for your reply...

Maybe your entire family and her sober friends could try intervention. Good Luck

Hi all, I was just wondering what happened? Did your sister go to a doctor? I know it's been a while but I have a similar problem with a spot on the back left side of my tongue and it hurts. I don't smoke or drink that mush at all. I am waiting to see an oral surgeon but in the mean time I am very concerned.