Throat Cancer
Throat cancer refers to cancer in the pharynx, larynx (voice box), or tonsils. It may impact speaking, swallowing, or breathing, depending on tumor size and location.
Symptoms include persistent sore throat, voice changes or hoarseness, painful swallowing, ear pain, throat lumps, chronic cough, or unexplained weight loss. Symptoms lasting more than 2–3 weeks should be evaluated by a specialist.
Diagnosis involves clinical examination, endoscopy for internal throat evaluation, tissue biopsy, CT/MRI/PET-CT for staging, and neck lymph node assessment by expert head and neck oncologists.
Treatment varies by stage. Common options include surgery, voice-preserving laser or transoral cancer surgery, neck dissection for lymph node spread, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or concurrent chemoradiation. Advanced cases may benefit from immunotherapy or targeted therapy when eligible.
Modern throat cancer surgery focuses on minimal pain and faster recovery. Hospital stay may range from 2–10 days depending on complexity, and full recovery can take weeks with proper rehabilitation, nutrition support, and oral care.
Yes, many early and select advanced cases are treated with voice-preservation techniques like laser surgery or chemoradiation. The aim is to avoid total removal of the voice box when medically possible, without compromising cure rates.
A total laryngectomy is advised when the tumor is large or deeply invasive and voice-preserving approaches are not safe or effective enough. This procedure may require a permanent breathing stoma and speech rehabilitation post-surgery.
Radiation may cause dry mouth, throat pain, fatigue, swallowing difficulty, taste changes, mouth sores, and skin irritation. Side-effect management is crucial for maintaining quality of life during treatment.
Throat cancers can spread to neck lymph nodes if not treated early. Routine screening for persistent throat symptoms significantly improves chances of stage-specific and function-sparing treatment.
Yes, smoking, chewing tobacco, and alcohol are leading risk factors for throat cancer. High-risk individuals are strongly encouraged to undergo periodic laryngeal and pharyngeal cancer screening.
Follow-up is usually every 1-3 months initially, then 6-12 months later, depending on recovery and recurrence risk. Regular monitoring helps detect changes early.