Not long if you don't have the cancer cut out and go through kemo to stop it from spreading. My guess is a year to a year and a half. Chew, snuff or plain old cancer sticks? Sorry to hear about your situation (if you have cancer) but it does say on the box or container that you will get cancer by using those products. My oldest use to be a smoker and I rode his ass daily and showed him pictures of what could be if he didn't stop and finally he quit. Damage is done but the risk now is less than if he was still smoking. It took my father-in-law three heart attacks to quit and if he could stop cold turkey after being a chain smoker for 50 yrs, there is no excuse why anyone can't quit cold turkey(well there are millions of excuses). Good luck to you or who ever has tongue cancer. Learn by this lesson if god allows you to stay on this planet.