What You Need to Know About Throat Cancer

The pharynx, better known as the throat, runs from the nose down your neck to the trachea (windpipe). It’s divided into three sections: 1) the nasopharynx; 2) the larynx; and 3) the hypopharynx. The nasopharynx is the upper part of the pharynx, behind the nose. The larynx is the part between the base of the throat and the trachea, and it’s divided into three parts: the supraglottis, the glottis, and the subglottis. The hypopharynx is the bottom of the pharynx. Air and food pass through the throat before going into the windpipe or esophagus, respectively. You can develop cancer in any part of the throat.

According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), roughly 13,000 people will be diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2018, and51,540will be cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx. When diagnosed before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is 78 percent. About half of all cases of laryngeal cancer are diagnosed before they have spread.

Oncologists (cancer doctors) use a standard staging system to describe tumors so that everyone who treats the patient understands the tumor the same way. TheTNMstaging system refers to the primary tumor (T), whether it has spread to the lymph nodes (N), and if it has metastasized, or spread (M). Tumors are classified as stage 0 (abnormal cells that may progress to cancer) to stage IV (the cancer has spread). The stage of your tumor determines the best approach to treatment.

Screening is the process of looking for signs of cancer in people who have no symptoms. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved any type of screening test for throat cancers, and theU.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent body that reviews medical evidence, has not endorsed screening for these cancers in adults who don’t have symptoms.

Tobacco and heavy alcohol consumption are the two biggestrisk factorsfor throat cancer.Plummer-Vinson Syndrome(a rare throat disorder that make swallowing difficult) is also a risk factor for cancer of the hypopharynx, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), better known as acid reflux, isassociatedwith an increased risk for cancer in the voice box in older adults. However, to date there’s no evidence that GERD may cause throat cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant risk factor for many cancers, including cancer of the middle of the throat, according to the NCI.HPV实际上是一群超过200相关病毒es, of which about 12 are responsible for most HPV-related cancers. Most adults get an HPV infection at some point, but the immune system generally resolves them within a year or two. However, in some cases, a persistent infection can cause cell changes that may progress to cancer.

According to theNCI, about 70 percent of cancers in the middle of the throat (as well as the tonsils and soft palate) are caused by HPV and, in the U.S., more than 50 percent are linked to HPV type 16. Whilethe rate of HPV-related throat cancer has been rising, the incidence is still low. You can lower your risk by limiting the number of oral sex partners you have and by getting vaccinated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approvedthree vaccinesto prevent HPV infection.

Thesymptomsof throat cancer are often vague. However, if you experience hoarseness or earache, have trouble swallowing, or detect a mass in your neck, see your doctor.

Throat cancer is treated mainly with surgery and radiation therapy, and sometimes chemotherapy. Many throat cancers are treated with surgery. The type of surgery depends on where the cancer is located and its stage. Your surgeon will perform the least invasive surgery possible to spare your voice box and other structures, while still aiming for the best outcome. You may need further treatment — usually radiation — after surgery, or reconstructive surgery to repair damage from treatment.

Throat cancer and its treatment can cause side effects that interfere with your quality of life. According to theThroat Cancer Foundation最常见的并发症,包括西南的麻烦allowing (dysphagia), swollen lymph nodes (lymphadema), fatigue, and anemia. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy because radiation can damage or destroy your salivary glands. Talk to your oncologist about ways to manage these issues; there'shelp available.