Throat cancer refers to any type of tumor that develops in the larynx, pharynx, tonsils or any other part of the throat, although rare, is a type of cancer that can develop at any age, especially in people over the age of 50, men, people. who smoke or abuse alcoholic beverages.
There are two main types of throat cancer:
- Any type of throat cancer can develop very quickly.
- So whenever you experience or notice unusual changes.
- Such as a sore throat that takes a long time to go away.
- Sudden changes in the voice.
- Or a frequent sensation of a bullet in your throat.
- You should consult an otolaryngologist to identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Common symptoms that may indicate throat cancer include
These symptoms vary depending on the site affected by the tumor, so if the cancer develops in the larynx, changes in the voice may occur, because if it is only a noticeable shortness of breath, it is more likely to be pharynx cancer.
However, the only way to confirm the diagnosis is to consult an otolaryngologist for diagnostic tests and start treatment.
Another type of cancer that can cause symptoms similar to throat cancer is thyroid cancer. See the top 7 symptoms of thyroid cancer.
Diagnosis of throat cancer can be confirmed by an otolaryngologist, who in addition to assessing each person’s symptoms and medical history, can also perform tests such as laryngoscopy, to see if there are any changes in the throat organs.
If changes are identified, your doctor may also take a tissue sample and send it to the lab to confirm the presence of cancer cells. Other tests that may also be done include MRI, CT or x-rays, for example.
After being diagnosed with throat cancer, your doctor may divide it into different stages, depending on your degree of development, in which, in the early stages (1 and 2), the tumor is small, reaches the most superficial cells and limits the throat and can be easily treated and removed by surgery, as well as having a better prognosis. In stages 3 and 4, the tumor is larger and is not limited to the throat, and metastases can be easily observed. Stage 4 is more severe because several outbreaks are observed that make treatment difficult and worsen the prognosis.
The more advanced the stage of cancer, the harder it is to treat. In the early stages, surgery may be needed to remove the tumor, while in later stages, it may be necessary to combine other types of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Treatment for throat cancer varies depending on the degree of development of the disease, however, it usually begins with surgery to remove as many cancer cells as possible, so in the early stages of the disease it may be possible to completely eliminate treatment of the cancer only with surgery, because the tumor is smaller.
Depending on the size of the tumor, your doctor may remove only a small part of the affected organ or need to remove it completely. For example, people with larynx cancer may have sequelae after surgery, such as voice disturbance, due to the loss of much of the organ where the vocal cords are located.
In more advanced cases, it is usually necessary to combine other forms of treatment after surgery, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, to remove remaining cells from the body, such as other tissues or lymph nodes, for example.
After surgery, you need to have another type of treatment, such as speech therapy and physiotherapy to help the person chew and swallow, for example.
One of the main causes of throat cancer is HPV infection, which can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex, however, there are also lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of HPV, such as:
For example, some ways to avoid developing this type of cancer include not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, eating healthy, and avoiding unprotected oral sex.