Throat Cancer

This cancer type begins in the pharynx (throat) or larynx (voice box) and it is called throat cancer. The throat is a muscular tube that starts behind the nose and ends in the neck. In such cases, the cancer cells appear in the flat cells that line the throat.

However, in some people, it may begin in the voice box that is located below the throat. The larynx is made of cartilage and voice cords that vibrate each time you talk or make sounds.

Throat Cancer Types

Usually, throat cancer is a term that refers to cancer that begins to develop in the throat or voice box. However, there are certain terms that describe the exact part of the throat where the cancer cells start. For example:

Nasopharyngeal cancer – In such cases, the cancer cells begin in the nasopharynx the throat part behind the nose.
Oropharyngeal cancer – Cancer cells appear in the oropharynx (the throat part behind the mouth that includes tonsils).
Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer) – This throat cancer type starts in the hypopharynx (the lower part of the throat above the esophagus and windpipe).
Glottic cancer – The cancer starts in the vocal cords.
Supraglottic cancer begins in the upper part of the voice box including epiglottis.
Subglottic cancer starts in the lower voice box part just below the vocal cords.

Symptoms

Usually, people with throat cancer experience the following symptoms. For example:

Ear pain
Sore throat
Weight loss
Swallowing problems
Voice changes (including speaking unclearly, hoarseness, and others)
Cough
A sore or lump in the throat that does not heal

It is advised to contact your doctor right away if any of the previous symptoms appear.

Causes

In people with this cancer type, the abnormal cells begin in the throat or voice box. These cancerous cells begin to develop and multiply due to DNA changes that happen in those cells. When the abnormal cells begin to multiply they may form a tumor and destroy healthy cells. While the exact cause of throat cancer remains unknown, healthcare professionals found some factors that may increase your risk of developing it.

Risk Factors

These include:

Tobacco products use (including smoking and chewing tobacco)
Misuse of alcoholic drinks
Viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus, human papillomavirus or HPV, and others)
Lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Continuous exposure to certain toxic substances or chemicals at work

How to Prevent Throat Cancer?

There is no sure way to prevent this cancer type but some tips listed below may help you reduce the risk of developing it. For example:

Quit smoking or never start because once you start to use tobacco products it may be quite difficult to quit. If you face problems with smoking cessation, discuss it with your physician.
Limit or avoid alcoholic drinks
Adopt a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables that may help reduce the risk of throat cancer.
Get protection against HPV because physicians believe in some cases throat cancer is caused by this sexually transmitted infection. That’s why it is advised to use condoms or dental dams during sexual activity or get vaccinated.

Diagnosis

Commonly, to diagnose this cancer type, doctors perform the following tests. For example:

Endoscopy – This test involves a lighted tube that helps get a closer look at your throat and check for abnormalities. It also may be used to examine the voice box.
Biopsy – It involves the removal of a small sample of the affected tissue and sending it to the laboratory for testing. Physicians will check this throat tissue sample for cancerous cells.
Imaging tests – These tests are used to get detailed images of the throat and voice box. Physicians usually perform CT (computerized tomography) scans, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, and PET (positron emission tomography) scans.

Once you are diagnosed with this cancer type, doctors may perform additional tests to determine the stage (extent) of the cancer. Stating the cancer helps doctors prescribe the best treatment for you.

Treatment

Treatments for throat cancer usually are different among people because they depend on different factors. These include your age, the severity of the cancer, existing health problems, and others. Check below some treatment options usually recommended by doctors for people with throat cancer:

Radiation Therapy

This treatment option uses powerful energy beams that often come from protons, X-rays, or other sources to destroy cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy such as external beam radiation and brachytherapy (the radioactive seeds and wires are placed inside the body near the cancer).

For people with mild throat therapy, this treatment option may be the only one needed. In advanced throat cancers, radiation therapy may be combined with other treatments including chemotherapy, surgery, and others.

Surgery

The surgery type you will need depends on the exact location and extent of the cancerous cells. For example:

Small cancers that do not spread to the lymph nodes surgery – In such cases, endoscopy may be the only procedure used to treat the cancer. Therefore, doctors will pass specific tools or a laser through the scope to remove or vaporize superficial cancers with the laser.
Laryngectomy – This is a surgery that removes either a part of completely the voice box. However, surgeons try to leave as much of the voice box as possible.
Pharyngectomy – This is a procedure in which small affected parts of the throat are removed. However, in severe cases, physicians may remove the throat and voice box completely and then reconstruct the throat to allow you to swallow food.
Neck dissection (cancerous lymph node removal) – This surgery involves the removal of the lymph nodes that are negatively affected by the cancer.

Furthermore, surgery increases the risk of certain complications including bleeding, infection, speaking or swallowing problems, and others. Discuss with your doctor about the risks and benefits of surgery.

Chemotherapy

This treatment option involves strong medications often given intravenously (IV) to destroy cancer cells throughout the body. Commonly, doctors recommend this treatment option along with radiation therapy either before or after surgery to kill cancer cells that may remain even after surgery.

Targeted Drug Therapy

This treatment option is often recommended by doctors when other treatments do not work. It involves specific medicines that block a specific protein in the cancer cells leading them to die. Physicians usually recommend Cetuximab. However, doctors may perform some tests to check if this treatment will be effective for you or not.

Immunotherapy

This treatment also involves medicines that boost the immune system to fight against cancer cells. In addition, cancer cells often produce a chemical that helps them hide from the immune system. Therefore, this treatment helps boost the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steps should be considered to reduce the risk of developing throat cancer?

Limit or avoid alcoholic drinks
Quit smoking or never begin
Get protection against HPV (such as vaccines)
Adopt a healthy diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein

For more details, discuss it with your doctor.

What are the most common symptoms of throat cancer?

Voice changes
Cough
Sore throat that does not heal itself
Shortness of breath
Pain in the throat
Swallowing problems

If any of the previous symptoms appear, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.

What conditions can be mistaken for throat cancer?