Tonsil Cancer Treatment

About Tonsil Cancer:

Tonsil cancer is an unusual type of cancer with signs and symptoms similar to other diseases. It is one of the head and neck cancers which develops in the oropharynx, which is located at the back of your throat. The tonsils are oval-shaped pads situated in the back of the mouth and are part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system.

linkRisk Factors:

According to leading cancer doctors and researchers, many individuals are likely to get tonsil cancer because of their lifestyle. Other tonsil cancer causes include:

Alcohol and tobacco: Regular drinking and smoking raises the risk of tonsil cancer manifolds. The chances multiply when you drink and smoke together.
Infections: If you are infected with the virus HPV (Human Papilloma virus) or HIV, you are at an increased risk of getting the cancer. A significant number of tonsil cancer cases by these group of viruses have been reported.
Age: More common in people above the age of 50
You are also likely to get tonsil cancer if you have had an organ transplant
Chewing betel quid (paan) is also considered to increase the tonsil cancer risk

linkSymptoms:

The tonsil cancer symptoms are very similar to the signs of strep throat. The leading cancer doctors say that strep throat is most common in people aged 5 to 15 years, while tonsil cancer usually strikes people over the age of 50. Other tonsil cancer signs and symptoms are:

Sores in the backside of the mouth that does not heal easily
Swollen tonsils with different sizes
Difficulty in swallowing
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Bad breath, blood tinged saliva and hoarseness
Pain while consuming citrus fruits
Persistent pain in the mouth, ear and throat

Stages:

The stages in tonsil cancer determine how big the tumour is and whether it has spread. The tonsil cancer staging helps the doctors decide what treatment will be the most effective. The stage of cancer depends on how far the cancer has grown in the local tissues, if the cancer has spread to the nearby glands and if the cancer has spread to any other parts of the body. However, the different stages are:

Stage 1: The cancer is in the nascent stage (less than 2 cm) confined to one area and has not spread to other parts.
Stage 2: The cancer is between 2 to 4 cm but has not spread.
Stage 3: The cancer is bigger than 4cm and has spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage 4: This is the most advanced and complicated stage. In this stage, the cancer could have spread to surrounding areas of the throat or mouth, lymph nodes which measure over 6cm, lymph nodes on the opposite side of the neck and other parts of the body.

The stage of tonsil cancer also depends on whether the cancer cells contain HPV virus. The doctor test the cancer cells and if you have tonsil cancer caused by HPV virus, it is either called P16 positive (contains HPV) or P16 negative (does not contain HPV). Hence, classifying the cancer allows the professionals to specify how far the cancer has progressed in a clear and concise manner.

linkDiagnosis:

The tonsil cancer diagnosis begins with a thorough examination of your mouth and throat. The cancer occurs when abnormal cells form in the oval-shaped pads at the back of the throat, called tonsils. The doctor checks your throat for lumps and may use a mirror and bright light to examine the inside of the mouth. The procedure may also include the following:

Needle aspiration biopsy: A small amount of tissue is taken out of the tonsils and examined under the microscope if any abnormal areas are found.
Blood tests
X-ray: To determine if the tumor is spread to the lungs or not.
Imaging tests: MRI and CT Scans can be conducted to find out the spread of tumour to the other parts of the body.

linkPrevention:

You can lower the risk of tonsil cancer by-

Avoiding betel quid (paan)
Quitting use of tobacco products including smokeless tobacco
Reducing your alcohol intake
Avoiding unprotected sex/ oral sex
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

linkTreatment:

Cancer Healer Center has a team of dedicated tonsil cancer specialists with state-of-the-art facilities and leading tonsil cancer treatment. The treatment of tonsil cancer varies depending on the type and stage of the disease, overall health, chances of curing the disease, extending life, or relieving symptoms. However, the chances of recovery are always better when diagnosed in early stages.

The center’s Cancer Healer Therapy helps in treating the disease even when the cancer has reached advanced or metastatic stages. Our team of experienced doctors carefully decide the treatment based on the patients reports. The treatment used works on the principle of Immunotherapy, a therapy that enhances the immune system to fight cancer. It brings prompt succour and relief in all patients and can also be effectively used in conjunction with other traditional therapies like Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy. At Cancer Healer Center, we provide oral medicines to the patients which are safe to take and have no side-effects. When the medicines act on cancer, patients get a better quality of life even in the advanced stages and their chances of survival also improves.