What is Throat Cancer and How to Identify

Throat cancer refers to any type of tumor that develops in the larynx, pharynx, tonsils or any other part of the throat. Although rare, this is a type of cancer that can develop at any age, especially in people who smoke or use excessive alcohol.

There are two main types of throat cancer:

• Laryngeal Cancer : affects the larynx, which is where the vocal cords are found. Learn more about this specific type of cancer;
• Pharyngeal cancer : it appears in the pharynx which is a tube through which air passes from the nose to the lungs.

Any type of cancer of the throat can develop very fast, and so whenever you feel or notice any unusual changes, such as a sore throat that takes too long to pass, sudden changes in your voice, or a frequent sensation of ball in the throat, an otorhinolaryngologist should be consulted to identify the cause and initiate the most appropriate treatment.

Main symptoms

The most common symptoms that may indicate throat cancer include:

• Sore throat or ear that does not go away;
• Frequent cough, which may be accompanied by blood;
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing;
• Changes in voice, with no apparent cause;
• Weight loss for no apparent reason.

These symptoms vary depending on the site affected by the tumor. Thus, if the cancer is developing in the larynx, it is possible that there are changes in the voice, if it is only notorious difficulty breathing, it is more likely to be cancer of the pharynx.

However, the only way to confirm the diagnosis is to see an otolaryngologist to do diagnostic tests and start treatment.

Another type of cancer that can cause thyroid cancer-like symptoms is thyroid cancer. Here are the top 7 thyroid cancer symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of throat cancer can be confirmed by an otolaryngologist who, in addition to assessing the symptoms and clinical history of each person, can also perform tests such as laryngoscopy to see if there are changes in the throat organs.

If changes are identified, the doctor may also remove a sample of tissue and send it to the laboratory to confirm the presence of cancer cells. Other tests that can also be done are magnetic resonance, computed tomography or X-ray, for example.

Stages of throat cancer

After making the diagnosis of throat cancer, the doctor can divide it into different stages, according to their degree of development, which include:

• Stage 0 : cancer is only in the most superficial cells of the throat and therefore can be easily treated;
• Stage 1 : The cancer is less than 2 cm and is limited to an organ of the throat, and can be removed completely by surgery;
• Stage 2 : The cancer is between 2 to 4 cm and may have spread to other regions of the throat. It is usually necessary to undergo surgery and other treatment such as chemotherapy;
• Stage 3 : The tumor is more than 4 cm long and has spread to another site of the throat, also affecting a lymph node. In these cases, treatment should be done quickly to prevent the cancer from reaching other parts of the body;
• Stage 4 : Cancer has spread to other organs of the body and therefore treatment is more difficult.

The more advanced the cancer stage the more difficult your treatment will be. In the earlier stages it may be necessary to undergo surgery to remove the tumor, while in the more advanced stages it may be necessary to combine other types of treatment such as chemo or radiotherapy.

How is the treatment done?

The treatment for throat cancer varies according to the degree of development of the disease, however it is usually started with surgery to remove the maximum of cancerous cells. Thus, in the early stages of the disease, it is possible that it is possible to treat the cancer completely only with surgery, since the tumor has a smaller size.

Depending on the size of the tumor, the doctor may remove only a small part of the affected organ or need to remove it completely. Thus, people with cancer of the larynx, for example, may have sequelae after surgery, such as voice alteration, due to the loss of a large part of the organ where the vocal cords are found.

In more advanced cases, it is usually necessary to combine other forms of treatment after surgery, such as chemo or radiotherapy, to eliminate cells that remain in the body, especially in other tissues or lymph nodes, for example.

Main causes of throat cancer

One of the main causes of throat cancer development is HPV infection, which can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex. However, there are also lifestyle habits that may increase the risk of this type of cancer, such as:

• Be a smoker;
• Drinking excessive alcohol;
• Making an unhealthy diet;
• Being exposed to asbestos;
• Have poor dental hygiene.

Thus, some ways to avoid developing this type of cancer include not smoking, avoiding too frequent alcoholic beverages, eating healthy and avoiding unprotected oral sex.