When the cancer develops in one or more parts of your throat is known as throat cancer. Throat cancer can develop in the larynx or oropharynx. Through this blog we will discuss the facts about throat cancer, its causes,...
Throat cancer can be of several types. There are two most common types of throat cancer - laryngeal cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. When the larynx is affected with cancer, it is known as laryngeal cancer, and when the middle of your throat is affected with cancer, it is known as oropharyngeal cancer.
What Are the Types of Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer can be named differently depending upon the area that it affects
- Laryngeal cancer
- Oropharyngeal cancer
- Hypopharyngeal cancer
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
- Supraglottic cancer
- Glottic cancer
- Subglottic cancer
What Are the Symptoms of Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer can represent several symptoms that may manifest in different areas of your throat in different ways such as
- Persistent sore throat that might have lasted for more than two weeks
- Dysphagia- difficulty in swallowing
- Odynophagia- pain while swallowing
- Voice changes, like hoarseness which can last for more than 2 weeks
- Lumps might form in the back of your mouth or throat
- Lump in back of neck or neck
- Pain in ear for more than 2 weeks
- Persistent cough
- Weight loss
- Coughing up blood
- Constant urge to clear throat
- Wheezing
What Are the Causes or Risk Factors of Throat Cancer?
Some general risk factors associated with oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancer are
- Smoking
- High alcohol consumption
- Betel quid or gutka chewing
- Asbestos exposure
- Low fruit and vegetable diet
- Obesity
- Age more than 50 years
- Viral infection such as HPV- human papillomavirus infections
- Poor oral hygiene maintenance
- Fanconi anaemia
- Dyskeratosis congenita
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
- Exposure to toxins at work place
How to Diagnose Throat Cancer?
Your doctor might adopt one or a combination of below mentioned approaches such as
- Physical Examination- Your doctor will evaluate and take a brief history of your current and past symptoms, he will ask about your medical history in detail and then evaluate your risk of developing throat cancer to further undergo certain diagnostic procedures. Book now
- Laryngoscopy- In this process, a laryngoscope is used which is advanced into your throat to examine your throat or area behind your nose in more detail. Doctors mostly use direct laryngoscopy techniques. Book now
- Pharyngoscopy- Your doctor can use a special diagnostic i instrument to detect the cancer of the oropharynx using a scope. Book now
- Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)- This is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses ionising radiation and computers to display pictures of your throat in detail which can help evaluate and diagnose your cancer if present. Book now
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan (MRI Scan)- This test does not use any ionising radiation but uses strong magnets and radio waves which makes it a safer diagnostic approach. This imaging technique makes pictures of your throat and body to help doctors evaluate the cancer and its features. Book now
- Positron emission tomography scan (PET Scan)- The PET scan uses a radioactive tracer known as FDG which can help measure the metabolic activity of the cells that help in differentiating normal cells from cancer cells. Iot is a diagnostic approach that can detect even the earliest signs of cancer. Book now
- Endoscopic Biopsy- During a biopsy procedure, a small piece of tissue is collected from the suspected area and viewed under the microscope to identify whether the cancer is present or not. Book now
- Bone Scan- It is used to detect cancer that has spread to bones. Book now
- X-ray Barium Study- It can help evaluate oesophagus with barium swallow studies. Book now
- Ultrasound- It is a type of diagnostic imaging technique that uses sound waves to create pictures of the internal structures of the body to evaluate cancer and its features. Book now
Staging of Throat Cancer
The cancer is divided into 5 stages as explained below
- Stage 0 - The stage where tumours lie only on the top layer of the affected area of the throat.
- Stage 1 - The tumour in this stage is localised to the area where it had started
- Stage 2 - The tumour in this stage starts to grow in the nearby area.
- Stage 3 - The tumour in this stage has spread to other structures significantly such as lymph nodes or other structures of the throat.
- Stage 4 - The tumour in this stage has spread to even more distant structures known as metastasising cancer.
Treatment Approach for Throat Cancer
Treatment of throat cancer can be done using one or combined approaches auch as
- Radiation therapy- It is used to treat small tumours or for other tumours before and after surgery
- Chemotherapy- It is the use of drugs/medications to treat cancer.
- Targeted therapy- This procedure focuses on the proteins in cancer cells that help in cell multiplication and growth of cancer. This treatment helps kill these cancer cells to slow their growth.
- Immunotherapy- This treatment approach focuses on protecting your immune system response to cancer.
Conclusion
Your doctors can only provide a definitive cure after they have thoroughly examined your situation along with undergoing proper diagnostic tests. The chances of developing a throat cancer are relatively low but chances of detecting it in early stages also stand small as the initial signs of it are often looked over and ignored by people, also the signs and symptoms of throat cancer are often mistaken as general disease conditions such as common cold. Hence the timely diagnosis and awareness plays a key role in the prognosis.
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We have many scans and tests imaging which can offer report Images online as well. We also offer FLAT 50% OFF on many test.
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We are known for providing excellent service and care to its patients for decades having created Lakhs of satisfied patients over the years!
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre is a one-stop solution for getting all kinds of diagnostic tests and scans done, as all services are available under one roof.
GDIC aims to provide the world’s advanced technology at the most reasonable and lowest price.
The rates of scans are reasonably priced. Patients can rely upon x-rays Image and test reports as reports are 100% accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Check Throat Cancer at Home?
You cannot check throat cancer at home. If you are having some unusual symptoms that won't go away with suggested medication, you should take an appointment from a healthcare professional to get the needed diagnostic checkup.
What Causes Throat Cancer?
There are many risks of throat cancer some of them are
- Tobacco use
- Alcohol consumption
- Infection from human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV especially affects younger people.
What Are the Symptoms of Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer can represent
- Throat pain
- Sore throat and cough which is persistent
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
- Feeling like something is stuck in throat
- Lump in throat or neck
How Does Throat Cancer Start?
chronic/long time smokers have a greater risk of developing cancer of throat. People who drink too much also can get affected with throat cancer. Consuming alcohol with smoking can further increase the chances of throat cancer. Adults or people more than 50 years of age have a high probability of developing throat cancer.
How to Know if I Have Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer cannot be diagnosed by just looking at your throat or you cannot diagnose throat cancer by self examination. Although if you have persistent throat cancer, unusual enlargement of the tonsil or red and white patches in the palate of the throat can be some of the signs of throat cancer, however only a definitive diagnosis can be conclusive.
Stage 4 Throat Cancer How Long to Live?
More than 30% of people having throat cancer are suspected to survive for more than 5 years after getting diagnosed. Stage 4 cancer involves the metastasis of cancer where the cancer has spread beyond and into the larynx such as to the thyroid gland or oesophagus. It might also include lymph nodes which get larger in size.
How to Diagnose Throat Cancer?
Biopsy is the definitive diagnostic approach to confirm the presence of throat cancer.a fiberoptic laryngoscopy technique is used to advance a small camera through the nose to examine nasopharynx, oropharynx and larynx.
How to Prevent Throat Cancer?
You can avoid cancer by following simple preventive measure such as-
- Stopping drinking and smoking
- Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, including vegetables and fruits in the diet
- Try not to get infected with HPV infection
What Causes Throat Cancer in Non-Smokers?
Non smokers can also get affected by throat cancer if they get infected with human papillomavirus which gets passed by unprotected sexual contact. It increases the chances of certain types of cancer of the throat such as back of tongue, side and back walls of throat, soft palate etc.
What Are the Early Symptoms of Throat Cancer?
Some of the symptoms of throat cancer are
- Painless lump in neck about 2 inches below jawline
- Dull earache
- Tonsil become irregularly lage
- Red and white patch on tonsil or palate
- Coughing up blood
- Persistent sore throat
- Persistent coughing
How Fast Does HPV Throat Cancer Spread?
Once you get infected with HPV, it takes several years for you to develop throat cancer. HPV when combined with other factors such as smoking, tobacco chewing or others can lead to cancer development such as oropharyngeal cancer.
