2023-06-17 16:55:13
Your throat is a muscular tube that starts behind your nose and ends in your neck. Throat cancer most often starts in the flat cells that line the inside of your throat. Your larynx sits just below your throat and is also susceptible to throat cancer. The larynx is made of cartilage and contains the vocal cords which vibrate to produce sounds when you speak.
Throat cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage (epiglottis) that covers your trachea. Tonsil cancer, another form of throat cancer, affects the tonsils, which are located at the back of the throat.
Throat Cancer 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 does not heal
A sore throat
Weightloss
When to consult a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice new signs and symptoms that persist. Most throat cancer symptoms aren’t specific to cancer, so your doctor will likely look for other, more common causes first.
Causes of throat cancer
Throat cancer occurs when cells in your throat develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause cells to grow out of control and allow them to continue living following the normal death of healthy cells. The cells that build up can form a tumor in your throat. The cause of the mutation that causes throat cancer is unclear. But doctors have identified factors that may increase your risk.
Types of throat cancer
Throat cancer is a general term applied to cancer that develops in the throat (pharyngeal cancer) or the larynx (laryngeal cancer). The throat and the larynx are closely linked, with the larynx being located just below the throat.
Although most throat cancers involve the same types of cells, specific terms are used to differentiate which part of the throat the cancer originates from.
– Nasopharyngeal cancer begins in the nasopharynx, the part of the throat just behind the nose.
– Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the oropharynx, the part of the throat just behind the mouth that includes the tonsils.
– Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer) starts in the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx), the lower part of your throat, just above your esophagus and windpipe.
– Glottal cancer begins in the vocal cords.
– Supraglottic cancer begins in the upper part of the larynx and includes cancer that affects the epiglottis, a piece of cartilage that prevents food from entering the trachea.
– Subglottic cancer begins in the lower part of your larynx, below your vocal cords.
Throat Cancer Risk Factors
Some factors that may increase your risk of throat cancer include:
– Tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco
– Excessive consumption of alcohol
– A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
– A diet low in fruits and vegetables
– Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Prevention of throat cancer
There is no proven way to prevent throat cancer. But to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can:
-Quitting smoking or not starting to smoke
If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, so ask for help. Your doctor can explain the benefits and risks of many smoking cessation strategies, such as medications, nicotine replacement products, and counseling.
– Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men over 65, and up to two drinks a day for men 65 and under.
– Choose a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables
The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of throat cancer. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
– Protect yourself once morest HPV
Some throat cancers are thought to be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. You can reduce your risk of HPV by limiting the number of sexual partners you have and using a condom every time you have sex.
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