Learning about throat cancer can be a confusing thing because "throat cancer" isn't a technical term. There are various types of cancer located in the throat that are often all referred to as "throat cancer," but each is a very different diagnosis. It is important to know the specific kind of throat cancer you want to learn about in order to be adequately educated.
Cancer of the Larynx, or Voice Box
Symptoms indicative of all kinds of throat cancer are a persistent sore throat, ear pain, pain when swallowing, hoarseness in the voice, or a lump in the neck. There are three treatment options: radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment, and the most efficient. Depending on the severity of the diagnoses, a portion of the larynx may be taken out or, in the most severe case, the entire larynx is removed. If only a portion is removed, radiation therapy is often recommended to kill any traces of cancer that may remain. Larynx cancer is often thought to be the worst kind of throat cancer, due to the possibility of a tracheostomy--the entire removal of the larynx, resulting in the patient losing the voice and needing the use of a speaking device to help with talking. However, as long as the entire larynx isn't removed, the voice will still be preserved.
Hypopharyngeal Cancer
The hypopharynx is located at the bottom of the throat connecting to the trachea and esophagus. The most common treatment option is surgery to remove the diseased area. In the most mild of cases, small areas of tissue including the lymph nodes may be removed, or if it is more severe, parts of both the larynx and pharynx are removed. The most extreme kind of surgery is the removal of the entire larynx and part of the pharynx. Fortunately, chemotherapy is often used prior to surgery to shrink the size of the cancer, potentially preventing the loss of the larynx.
Cancer of the Thyroid
Thyroid cancer is becoming more and more possible to treat. There are four kinds of cancer of the thyroid: papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic. Papillary is the most common thyroid cancer and the most treatable, and anaplastic is the least common and the most difficult to treat. Surgery is the most recommended treatment for each kind of thyroid cancer--a partial or total removal of the thyroid. In both cases, radiation is often done following the surgery to remove any cancer that might have been left behind. If the entire thyroid is removed, supplementary hormone treatment will be necessary for life, as the hormones produced by the thyroid determine blood pressure, heart rate, and other vitally important functions of the body.
Oropharyngeal cancer
The oropharynx is the middle part of the pharynx and includes the tonsils and part of the tongue. In addition to the common symptoms associated with throat cancer, pain behind the breastbone, a cough, or an unexplained weight loss are all indicators of oropharyngeal cancer. Either chemotherapy or radiation is done first to avoid any unnecessary tissue removal. Surgery is done as a last resort due to the difficulty in removing some portions of the oropharynx.
Nasopharyngeal Cancer
The nasopharynx is located at the back of the nose toward the base of the skull. It is often considered a type of oral cancer; however, it commonly leads to other areas of the throat, resulting in a form of throat cancer. The same symptoms for throat cancer are shared with nasopharyngeal cancer but also include a lump in the nose, difficulty speaking or breathing, nosebleeds, headaches, trouble hearing, and ringing in the ear. Radiation therapy is often the first kind of treatment used, but if it isn't completely effective, surgery is then required to remove any cancer that was not responsive to treatment.
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