Throat Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Tests and Treatment

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THROAT CANCER

• SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS, TESTS AND TREATMENT

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INTRODUCTION TO THROAT CANCER

• The throat cancer affects the mouth, the oral
  cavity or the pharynx, the upper part of the
  throat.
• The throat cancer will attack the oral cavity or
  the pharynx. It can be found with the idea of the
  common symptoms and can be treated.
• The lump or nodule found in the mouth or neck is
  the main symptom for the throat cancer.
• Throat cancer can also affect the piece of
  cartilage (epiglottis) that acts as a lid for
  your windpipe. Tonsil cancer, another form of
  throat cancer, affects the tonsils, which are
  located on the back of the throat.

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SYMPTOMS OF THROAT CANCER 

• Signs and symptoms of throat cancer may include
• Cough
• Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not
  speaking clearly
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain
• A lump or sore that doesn't heal
• A sore throat
• Weight loss

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TYPES OF THROAT CANCER

• Though most throat cancers involve the same types
  of cells, specific terms are used to
  differentiate the part of the throat where cancer
  originated. 
• Nasopharyngeal cancer begins in the nasopharynx -
  the part of your throat just behind your nose.
• Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the oropharynx -
  the part of your throat right behind your mouth
  that includes your tonsils.

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TYPES OF THROAT CANCER

• Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer)
  begins in the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx) - the
  lower part of your throat, just above
  your oesophagus and windpipe.
• Glottic cancer begins in the vocal cords.
• Supraglottic cancer begins in the upper portion
  of the larynx and includes cancer that affects
  the epiglottis, which is a piece of cartilage
  that blocks food from going into your windpipe.
• Subglottic cancer begins in the lower portion of
  your voice box, below your vocal cords.

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TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS OF THROAT CANCER

• In order to diagnose throat cancer, your doctor
  may recommend
• Using a scope to get a closer look at your
  throat Your doctor may use a special lighted
  scope (endoscope) to get a close look at your
  throat during a procedure called endoscopy. A
  tiny camera at the end of the endoscope transmits
  images to a video screen that your doctor watches
  for signs of abnormalities in your throat.

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TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS OF THROAT CANCER

• Removing a tissue sample for testing If
  abnormalities are found during an endoscopy or
  laryngoscopy, your doctor can pass surgical
  instruments through the scope to collect a tissue
  sample (biopsy). The sample is sent to
  a laboratory for testing.
• Imaging tests Imaging tests, including X-ray,
  computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance
  imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography
  (PET) may help your doctor determine the extent
  of your cancer beyond the surface of your throat
  or voice box.

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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THROAT CANCER

• Radiation therapy Radiation therapy uses
  high-energy beams from sources such as X-rays and
  protons to deliver radiation to the cancer cells,
  causing them to die. For early-stage throat
  cancers, radiation therapy may be the only
  treatment necessary. For more advanced throat
  cancers, radiation therapy may be combined with
  chemotherapy or surgery.
• Surgery for early-stage throat cancer Throat
  cancer that is confined to the surface of the
  throat or the vocal cords may be treated
  surgically using endoscopy. Your doctor may
  insert a hollow endoscope into your throat or
  voice box and then pass special surgical tools or
  a laser through the scope. Using these tools,
  your doctor can scrape off, cut out or, in the
  case of the laser, vaporise very superficial
  cancers.

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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THROAT CANCER

• Surgery to remove all or part of the voice
  box For smaller tumours, your doctor may remove
  the part of your voice box that is affected by
  cancer, leaving as much of the voice box as
  possible. Your doctor may be able to preserve
  your ability to speak and breathe normally.
• Surgery to remove part of the throat Smaller
  throat cancers may require removing only small
  parts of your throat during surgery. Parts that
  are removed may be reconstructed in order to
  allow you to swallow food normally.
• Surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes If
  throat cancer has spread deep within your neck,
  your doctor may recommend surgery to remove some
  or all of the lymph nodes to see if they contain
  cancer cells.

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TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR THROAT CANCER

• Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill
  cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used along
  with radiation therapy in treating throat
  cancers. Certain chemotherapy drugs make cancer
  cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. But
  combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy
  increases the side effects of both treatments.
• Targeted Drugs Targeted drugs treat throat
  cancer by taking advantage of specific defects in
  cancer cells that fuel the cells'
  growth. Cetuximab is one targeted therapy
  approved for treating throat cancer in certain
  situations. Cetuximab stops the action of a
  protein that's found in many types of healthy
  cells, but is more prevalent in certain types of
  throat cancer cells.

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