What is Throat Cancer?

Throat Cancer

Throat cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, can be found in the pharynx or larynx. It most often affects squamous cells or thin, flat cells that line the surface of these organs. Throat cancer can affect either the pharynx or larynx and there are a variety of different types, based on where the cancer is found. Squamous cell cancer of the throat can spread to other areas of the body including the lungs, bone, and liver.

Symptoms:

Following are the symptoms of throat cancer:

1. A sore throat that doesn’t go away.

2. Pain or difficulty in swallowing.

3. Persistent ear pain

4. A lump in the neck or throat

5. Hoarseness or other changes in the voice.

6. Bleeding of Nose

7. Headaches

8. Coughing up blood

9. Unexplained weight loss

10. Sores in the throat

Diagnosis of throat cancer typically begins with a physical exam conducted by your doctor to check for any signs of abnormality, such as a sore or lump in your mouth or swollen lymph nodes in your neck. They might also conduct an endoscopy, a procedure using a small camera and light. The endoscope is inserted through your nose and travels down the throat, allowing the doctor to take a closer look.

Treatment:

Treatment for throat cancer depends on the type of cancer you have, and whether it has spread to other parts of your body, such as your mouth or lymph nodes. Common treatments include radiation to kill cancer cells or surgery to remove the affected area. Removal of part or all of the larynx or pharynx can affect a person’s ability to speak. A person recovering from throat cancer surgery may need to learn how to speak in new ways, either using breathing techniques or voice aids.

If throat cancer has spread to other areas of the body, more extensive treatment might be required. Your doctor might also recommend the following additional treatments to give your body the best chance at eliminating cancer completely:

• Radiation therapy: This uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and prevent new cancer cells from growing. It is highly recommended that people who are being treated with radiation for throat cancer quit smoking before receiving treatment in order to maximize the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy: This uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy is often recommended for advanced stage (3 and 4) throat cancer and is usually prescribed in combination with radiation. Sometimes, chemotherapy is given prior to surgery in order to shrink the tumor in the throat.
• Targeted therapy: This uses drugs to kill cancer cells without harming normal cells. It may be recommended for advanced stage throat cancers. Currently, targeted therapy is used primarily to treat laryngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers.

For more information throat cancer visit the proton therapy center.