if the problem is at the base of your tongue, you may not notice any symptoms. Your dentist may find signs of tongue cancer during a checkup, or your doctor might notice something during a regular exam.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cancers on the base of the tongue. HPV also can infect your genital area and cause cervical cancer, penile cancer, and anal cancer. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are many types of HPV. The ones that raise your odds of getting cancer are called high-risk HPV.