2023-05-24 12:21:55
When these cancers are treated at an early stage, the survival rate is 80 to 90%. Hence the importance of rapid screening.
Cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract – known as ENT cancers – are the fourth cause of cancer in France. On average, 1,400 new cases are identified each year. If in 80% of cases it is squamous cell carcinoma of the throat and mouth, there are a wide variety of tumors that can affect the palate, nasopharynx, thyroid gland, etc. As reported le Daily Mailthere are more than 30 areas in the head and neck where tumors can grow.
Currently, three quarters of patients are men and the main risk factors are alcohol and tobacco. “But this consumption being more and more widespread in women and rather decreasing in men, the number of cases of these cancers is increasing in the female population.“, underline the Curie Institute. But another element can promote the appearance of these cancers: “For many years, another risk factor has been identified: the HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus). It is mainly involved in cancers of the tonsil area, called the oropharynx.“.
Early support
The diagnosis is often too late because most of the signs are not worrying. Nevertheless, Gustave Roussy recalls that when these cancers are treated at an early stage, the survival rate is 80 to 90%.
To quickly identify this cancer, health professionals point out that if patients show one of these signs for more than three weeks, they should seek medical advice from a specialist without delay. Some of the signs to look out for are: sore tongue, mouth ulcers that won’t heal, painful swallowing, pain in the throat, lump in the neck, persistent hoarseness, stuffy nose on one side, a discharge of blood from the nose. The earlier the treatment, the higher the survival rate. Currently, 70% of ENT cancers are detected at an advanced stage.
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