Recognizing Early Warning Signs of Throat Cancer: Symptoms to Watch For

Throat cancer is a term for cancer affecting the throat. People with throat cancer symptoms have cancer in the voice box (larynx) or the middle part of the throat (oropharynx). Healthcare practitioners use surgery for the treatment of throat cancer. Specific surgery depends on the location, spread, and type of throat cancer. 

Is throat cancer common?

There are various types of skin cancer. The common ones are the oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. Laryngeal cancer affects the voice box, while oropharyngeal cancer affects the middle section of the throat. In the previous year, the projection shows that over fifty thousand people were diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, and close to twelve thousand were diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. 

Laryngeal cancer

This cancer affects the voice box. It affects more men than women. It targets people over 55 years old. This cancer starts in different parts of the larynx. Forty-six and seventy-two percent of people with this type of cancer live beyond five years of diagnosis. 

Oropharyngeal cancer

It affects parts of the throat right behind the mouth. The number of men who have this cancer doubles the number of women. It affects people beyond sixty-three years old. Over fifty percent of people diagnosed with this cancer live beyond five years after diagnosis. 

Other types of throat cancer

Hypopharyngeal cancer

It affects parts of the throat above the windpipe and esophagus. 

Nasopharyngeal cancer

This cancer is rare. It affects part of the throat behind the nose. 

Supraglottic cancer

It starts in the upper section of the larynx. It affects the epiglottis, which keeps food from going to the windpipe. Over thirty percent of laryngeal cancers begin in the supraglottis. 

Glottic cancer

This is a vocal cord cancer. Vocal cords are in the middle of the larynx. Over half of laryngeal cancers start here. 

Subglottic cancer

It starts in the vocal cords in the lower section of the voice box. About five percent of all cancers of the larynx begin here. 

What are the causes and symptoms? 

What are the symptoms of throat cancer?

Throat cancer encompasses various types that affect different parts of the throat in dissimilar ways. The most prevalent symptoms of throat cancer include; 

• Ear pain lasting for over two weeks
• Lumps in the neck, including lumps at the back of the neck
• Lumps at the back of the mouth or throat
• Changes in the voice, like hoarseness, which lasts for over two weeks
• Difficulty or pain while swallowing food (dysphagia).
• Sore throat that lasts over two weeks

It does not mean that when you have these symptoms, then you have throat cancer. On many occasions, these symptoms are signs of minor conditions. If your symptoms last for over two weeks, it is advised to talk to the healthcare practitioner to find out what is happening. 

How will you know if you have throat cancer?

Tula skincare provider is the best source of info about throat cancer. That is because many cancer symptoms are similar to many less severe conditions. After saying that, hoarseness that does not go away within two weeks can be early symptoms of laryngeal cancer. Other common symptoms of throat cancer are trouble swallowing food and sore throat lasting more than two weeks. 

What is the leading cause of throat cancer?

This cancer happens when there is a trigger in the genetic makeup of cells in the throat. This change turns all healthy cells in the throat into cancerous cells, which grow and multiply. Studies and research are being carried out to establish what brings about the change. However, they have linked throat cancer to medical conditions and activities that increase the risk of developing it. 

You use or smoke tobacco items, including chewing snuff and tobacco, or you have been smoking or using tobacco. Tobacco use or smoking has been the leading risk factor for developing neck and head cancer, including throat cancer. You may have to employ clean choice energy products to handle this condition in the body to reduce the spread in the throat. 

You drink excess volumes of alcohol—research links pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer to heavy and frequent alcohol consumption. 

You have a particular HPV.

Does HPV cause throat cancer?

Yes, there are HPV types that cause oropharyngeal cancer. It is called oropharyngeal HPV. One percent of women and men have this infection that causes throat cancer. Many adults have been exposed to HPV, and some bodies cannot eliminate this virus. Researchers are still studying why some people cannot get rid of this virus, which leads to throat cancer. 

Is throat cancer curable?

Healthcare practitioners can cure throat cancer that has not spread to tissues or the lymph nodes. Cancer that has not spread is known as localized cancer. Over fifty percent of people diagnosed with localized laryngeal cancer live over five years after diagnosis. Over sixty percent of people diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer live five years after diagnosis. 

Final Thoughts: How to care for yourself with throat cancer

If you have undergone laryngeal cancer treatment, you may need help with pain management for the effects of treatment. For instance, both surgery and radiation therapy can affect swallowing, hearing, or speaking. The healthcare provider will identify services and programs to help you if that is the situation. 

It is possible that oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancer can come back. You will require regular follow-up appointments after the treatment for the healthcare practitioner to check your health. He will also check for signs of developing another cancer. 

Author Bio:

A professional content writer with 3 years of blogging experience, Eloise Emily. She started her work as a blogger after earning her degree from California’s Loyola Marymount University. 

She contributes to several well-known blogs, including pluslifestyles.com, beautyandstyleguide.com,  healthjournal365, truehealthtips, womenmagazine, voiceofaction.org, technetdeals.com, searchenginemagazine.com, onlinehealthmedia.com, and 7bestthings. She takes pleasure in contributing to numerous foreign publications and magazine pieces. In addition, she enjoys watching movies and listening to music when she has free time.