
Posted in: Uncategorized by cancerhealercenter
Throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in the Nasopharynx (upper part of the throat behind the nose), Oropharynx (the middle part of the throat), Hypopharynx (the bottom part of the throat) and larynx (voice box). The throat also known as pharynx is a 5-inch long tube that runs from the nose to the neck. The exact cause of throat cancer is still not know, however there are few factors that increase the risk which includes:
Age: The cancer risk increases as you grow old (most common over the age of 65)
Tobacco: Including chewing tobacco and smoking
Alcohol: Long term regular drinker has higher chances of getting the cancer
Diet: Lack of antioxidants in diet (lack of fruits and vegetables)
Infections: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, contracting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Gastroeso- phageal reflux disease increase the risk
There are no specific symptoms for throat cancer and occurrence of few symptoms cannot indicate the disease. Also signs of throat cancer are difficult to identify in the early stage and most of them are same as the symptoms of cold or sore throat. However if any of the below mentioned symptoms occur constantly then a Doctor should be consulted immediately.
Change in the voice quality (hoarseness)
Throat pain
Bad breath
Coughing with bloody sputum
Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
Throat discomfort (lump formation in the throat)
Ear and neck pain
Sudden weight loss
By making few healthy changes in your life style you can reduce the risk to a great extent. These include:
Quit smoking
Drink alcohol in moderation (one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men)
Include healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables in your diet. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables help reduce the cancer risk
Protect yourself from diseases like HPV (go for safe sex)
There are several treatments available for throat cancer. Few of the most common traditional treatments include- Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, Surgery, Hormone therapy etc. But most of these treatments result in side effects like hair loss, damage to normal cells, bone loss etc. However a new treatment developed in this field called Immunotherapy which uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer without any major side effects. Know more about the treatment here: www.cancerhealercenter.com
Remember cancer is a disease which is curable if detected early!