About Throat Cancer
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).
Generally, throat cancer lesions are found in a person’s throat, voice box or tonsils. Throat also known as pharynx is a 5-inch long tube that starts at the nose and runs down the neck.
Tonsils are the two masses of soft tissue located at the rear of the throat. Voice box or larynx is the part of the respiratory tract that houses the vocal cords and is responsible for vocal sounds.
Advanced stages of throat cancer may spread to all three of these parts, and may progress to nearby lymph nodes, blood vessels, and organs.
Types of Throat Cancer
Throat cancer often tends to spread quickly, that is why it is very important to get it treated at an early stage to ensure its timely treatment. The type of throat cancer a person may have is based on where the cancerous tumor originates and how it spreads.
Doctors often identify throat cancer in a similar way, and it can be categorized into two types:
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Pharyngeal cancer: This cancer develops in the pharynx, which is an organ that helps in both respiratory and digestive function. Pharyngeal cancer can be localized to these parts of the throat:
- Nasopharynx- It starts in the upper part of the throat behind the nose.
- Oropharynx- It is the middle part of the throat that includes the base of the tongue, tonsils and the soft palate.
- Hypopharynx- It is the place where the larynx and the oesophagus meet.
- Laryngeal cancer: This cancer forms in the larynx, which is also called the vocal box and it is responsible for a person’s vocal sounds.
What are the Symptoms of Throat Cancer?
There are no specific symptoms for throat cancer and occurrence of few symptoms cannot indicate the disease. If any of the below mentioned symptoms are noticed then one should consult a doctor 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
Diagnosis
Getting regular blood-tests and physical evaluations may drastically improve a person’s chance to diagnose throat cancer in its early stages. Diagnosing any cancer early will improve a patient’s chance of being cured and getting rid of cancer altogether.
If someone feels like they have some unexplainable health problems that are recurring in nature then they should consult their doctor about the same. Some of the popular tests and methods that a doctor may use specifically to detect cancer cells are:
- Endoscope or laryngoscope: They are used to get a close look of the throat and if abnormalities are found during the test then Biopsy (removal of a part of tissue) is done.
- Imaging tests: CT (computed tomography), PET (positron emission tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and X-rays are done which helps the doctor find out the spread of the cancer.
- Tests like Barium Swallow and Laryngeal Videostroboscopy are done too.
Stages of Throat Cancer
After diagnosis a doctor may also assign a stage to a patient’s cancer. Stages of cancer describe how much it has progressed. Cancer stages also help the doctors to determine how to move forward with the treatment. There are mainly four stages of cancer:
- Stage 0 and 1: It is the very beginning of the scale. This is when an abnormal tumor is identified in the lining of the throat and is barely 1cm in dimension, but can lead to the formation of throat cancer.
- Stage 2: In this stage the tumor is more than 2cm but less than 4cm. Here, it hasn’t still spread to the lymph nodes.
- Stage 3: By this stage the tumor is larger than 4 cm and has also spread to the nearby lymph node, which is located at the same side of the neck as the tumor.
- Stage 4: This is the last and the most advanced stage of throat cancer. By now the cancer has spread to numerous other body parts adjoining the cancerous tumor itself.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Age: Cancer risk increases as you grow old (most commonly diagnosed after the age of 65).
- Tobacco: Including chewing tobacco and smoking.
- Alcohol: Long term regular drinkers have higher chances of getting cancer.
- Diet: Lack of antioxidants in diet (lack of fruits and vegetables).
- Infections OR Viruses: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, contracting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Gastroesophageal reflux.
- Hereditary: Conditions such as fanconi anemia.
- Exposure to harmful chemical: inhalation or prolonged exposure to harmful gases present in petroleum or metalwork industry.
- Gender: Affects around four times as many men as women.
Prevention of Throat Cancer
There are some precautionary measures that people can implement in their daily lives to safeguard themselves, and their loved ones, from the threats of various cancers including throat cancer. Some of the steps may include:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco is linked to a number of illnesses, and may also make a person much more susceptible towards acquiring throat cancer.
- Drink alcohol in moderation (one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men).
- Eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables help reduce cancer risk.
- Engaging in safe sex to avoid the risk of getting HPV infection, which is linked to throat cancer.
- Getting regular check-ups and blood tests.
Treatment of Throat Cancer
At Cancer Healer Center, throat cancer treatment is done using Cancer Healer therapy. This is a form of immunotherapy which fights against cancer without any side effects like hair loss, damage to normal cells or bone loss.
It trains the immune system to recognize and target cancer cells and attack the cancer systematically, throughout the body. There are different lines of treatment available for different types of cancers cancers at affordable cost, which are decided by our team of doctors after evaluating the reports based on the type and spread of cancer.
Immunotherapy
Immune system is the first line of defence when it comes to fighting illnesses. It comprises of white blood cells, organs and numerous tissues of the lymphatic system.
Immunotherapy has redefined how cancer is treated throughout the world. Its main focus is towards helping cancer patients prepare immune systems that can get rid of cancer on their own. It may also help patients stay cancer free after going into remission, by stopping any new cancer growth before it is developed into tumors.
Treatment of throat cancer using immunotherapy depends on the overall progression of the cancer. Immunotherapy can operate as a standalone means of cancer treatment, or it can be combined with other cancer remedies to further enhance.
Immunotherapy has already proven its mettle for being an effective treatment for pancreatic and other numerous forms of cancer, its success has made it the latest remedial solution for cancer treatment since chemotherapy’s development in 1940s.
One of the renowned cancer hospitals in India, Cancer Healer center holds expertise in screening, diagnosing, staging & treatment of throat cancer. Once throat cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to understand the extent/stage of cancer.
Knowing the stage helps to determine your throat cancer treatment options. The best throat cancer hospital in India considers many factors such as the location and stage of cancer, the overall health, the type of cells involved while determining the treatment.
Discuss the benefits and risks of each of your options with your doctor. Together with your doctor and throat cancer hospital, you can determine what treatments will be most appropriate for you. Cancer Healer Center is an apex cancer center when it comes to throat cancer treatment in India.
With its presence in Delhi(NFC), Delhi (South Ex), Delhi (west), Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Indore, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, Cancer Healer Center has been offering a treatment that aims to a future with a long and healthy life, not living in the shadows of Cancer but light.
