Signs and Symptoms
Cancers that involve the throat, base of the tongue, tonsil,
pharynx, or tube that extends from the nasal passages to the mouth
to the esophagus and sinus are called oropharyngeal and
hypopharyngeal cancers.
Symptoms of throat cancer may include:
A sore throat that does not go away
Cough
Pain or difficulty swallowing
Weight loss for no known reason
Ear pain
A lump in the back of the mouth, throat or neck
Advanced tumors may invade the voice box, causing hoarseness or
breathing difficulty
Bleeding from the throat or blood-tinged sputum
Risk factors for developing throat cancer
may include:
Smoking tobacco
Heavy alcohol use
A diet low in fruits and vegetables
Drinking maté, a stimulant drink common in South America
Chewing betel quid, a stimulant commonly used in parts of Asia
Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV)
Diagnosis
In making a diagnosis of throat cancer, your doctor will first
start by recording your medical history, asking about any symptoms
you may be experiencing and conducting a thorough physical
examination. Your doctor may also may recommend one or more of the
following diagnostic tests:
Endoscopy
This test is performed in the operating room with general
anesthesia to determine the extent of the tumor. During the
procedure, the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract and
respiratory tract are visualized with endoscopes, which are long,
thin and flexible tubes equipped with a tiny video camera and
light on the end. The endoscope is used to look at areas in the
throat and respiratory tract that cannot be seen during a physical
exam. Other areas examined include the esophagus, trachea and
bronchi of the lungs.
The endoscope has a channel that allows instruments to be passed
through in order to take tissue samples. By adjusting the various
controls on the endoscope, the doctor can safely maneuver the
instrument to carefully examine the inside lining of the upper
portion of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract. The
high-quality picture from the endoscope is shown on a TV monitor.
In many cases, endoscopy is a more precise examination than X-ray
studies.
Imaging Tests
Your doctor may also recommend imaging tests, such as a
computerized tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography
(PET) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which provide
additional information regarding the stage of the tumor and
whether the cancer has spread to surrounding lymph nodes in the
neck or elsewhere in the body.
Treatment Surgery
Before having surgery, your doctor will discuss the procedure with
you in detail and discuss any possible side effects.
If the tumor is small and localized, surgery will often
successfully remove the tumor with few side effects. However, if
the tumor is advanced and has spread to surrounding areas, surgery
will be more extensive and may involve the removal of parts of
your throat, mouth, jaw or voice box. In these cases, your ability
to speak, chew, swallow and breathe may be affected.
Reconstructive surgery can help restore your appearance and
rehabilitate speech and swallowing function. Prosthetic devices in
your mouth may replace removed portions of your teeth, gums and
jaw. In more advanced cases, you may need to use tubes for feeding
and breathing and an artificial voice aid for speaking.
You will also work with a speech-language pathologist to assist
you with problems related to speaking and swallowing. In addition,
you may work with a dietitian who will help you develop a
nutritional plan that includes healthy foods that are easy to
swallow and chew.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can be used for select small tumors as primary
treatment. It is also administered following surgery or in
combination with chemotherapy for advanced tumors.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Researchers
are looking for effective drugs or drug combinations to treat
throat cancer. They are also exploring ways to combine
chemotherapy with other forms of cancer treatment to help destroy
the tumor and prevent the disease from spreading. For advanced
tumors, chemotherapy is often given in combination with radiation
therapy, typically in the setting of a therapeutic clinical trial.
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