Throat cancer
Overview
Throat cancer refers cancer
that develops in your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx).
Your throat is a muscular
tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Throat cancer most
often begins in the flat cells that line the inside of your throat.
Your voice box sits just
below your throat and also is susceptible to throat cancer. The voice box is
made of cartilage and contains the vocal cords that vibrate to make sound when
you talk.
Types of throat cancer
Throat cancer is a general
term that applies to cancer that develops in the throat (pharyngeal cancer) or
in the voice box (laryngeal 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.
Hypopharyngeal cancer
(laryngopharyngeal cancer) begins in the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx) — the
lower part of your throat, just above your esophagus and windpipe.
Glottic cancer begins in the
vocal cords.
Supraglottic cancer begins
in the upper portion of the voice box 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.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of throat
cancer may include:
A 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
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with
your doctor if you notice any new signs and symptoms that are persistent. Most
throat cancer symptoms aren't specific to cancer, so your doctor will likely investigate
other more common causes first.
Causes
Throat cancer occurs when
cells in your throat develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause cells to
grow uncontrollably and continue living after healthy cells would normally die.
The accumulating cells can form a tumor in your throat.
It's not clear what causes
the mutation that causes throat cancer. But doctors have identified factors
that may increase your risk.
Risk factors
HPV
increases the risk of cancer of the throat, soft palate, tonsils and back of
the tongue.
HPV and throat cancer
Factors that can increase
your risk of throat cancer include:
Tobacco use, including
smoking and chewing tobacco
Excessive alcohol use
Viral infections, including
human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus
HPV increases the risk of
cancer of the throat, soft palate, tonsils and back of the tongue.
A diet lacking in fruits and
vegetables
Gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD)
Exposure to toxic substances
at work
Prevention
There's no proven way to
prevent throat cancer from occurring. But in order to reduce your risk of
throat cancer, you can:
Stop smoking or don't start
smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Stopping smoking
can be very difficult, so get some help. Your doctor can discuss the benefits
and risks of the many stop-smoking strategies, such as medication, nicotine
replacement products and counseling.
Drink alcohol only in
moderation, if at all. For healthy
adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day
for men.
Choose a healthy diet full
of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and
vegetables may reduce your risk of throat cancer. Eat a variety of colorful
fruits and vegetables.
Protect yourself from HPV. As
note earlier, some throat cancers are thought to be caused by the sexually
transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV). You can reduce your risk of
HPV by limiting your number of sexual partners and using a condom every time
you have sex. Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine, which may reduce the risk
of throat cancer and other HPV-related cancers.
A
Face of Throat Cancer
Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA,
LFACHE
Senior Consultant
Senior Management
Resources, LLC
JanJenningsBlog.Blogspot.com
412.913.0636 Cell
724.733.0509 Office
No comments:
Post a Comment