Many people may experience unpleasant symptoms that are associated with the throat, manifested in the form of pain, itching, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and the like. In most situations, these manifestations are common signs of colds, which are caused by viruses and bacteria. But in the event that such signals are observed for a long time and, moreover, do not pass, then they may indicate a more dangerous problem - throat cancer.
Description of the disease
Malignant tumors in this area, fortunately, are not among the common pathologies. But this disease cannot be called very rare. It occurs in about four percent of cancer patients. As a rule, it all starts with a small tumor, which is located in the layerepithelial tissues lining the surface of the pharynx or larynx.
The nasopharynx is most often affected by these formations. Such localization is especially dangerous, since the tumor is capable of growing into the air cavity of the skull. Gradually, the formation increases in size, affecting the surrounding tissues. Ultimately, throat cancer can affect the lymph nodes and form metastases in other areas of the body. In most situations, patients die from massive bleeding from tumor-affected blood vessels or from blood aspiration.
The tumor can affect different parts of the larynx. The supraligamentous sector, in turn, is affected especially often (two-thirds of cases). In addition, this localization is characterized by rapid tumor development with early metastasis. The ligamentous region is affected in about a third of cases. Usually, with such localization, the formation develops rather slowly, which makes it possible to detect it in time and begin the necessary treatment.
Subglottic localization is not common, it is characteristic of only three percent of cases. Due to its location, this type of cancer is extremely dangerous and is characterized by diffuse development. Among all examples of oncology of the throat, the localization of pathology in the larynx occurs in fifty-five percent of cases, the rest of the development of the disease occurs in the pharynx.
Causes of disease
Unlike many other oncological diseases, this one has a clear dependence on certainfactors. And smoking is number one. In fact, it can be said that throat cancer is a disease of heavy smokers. More than eighty-five percent of patients with this disease suffer from this addiction.
What are other causes of throat cancer? The second important provocateur is gender. The disease in question is a male disease. Approximately ninety-five percent of patients are men over the age of fifty. In women, this pathology is rare, but this does not mean that ladies, especially smokers, do not have a chance to get sick with this disease. Throat cancer is also rare in young people, and old age is another negative factor. Other provocateurs contributing to the disease in question include:
- Inhalation of toxic fumes.
- Working with hazardous chemicals (we are talking about the chemical industry, the production of paint materials, etc.).
- Wrong diet combined with a lot of s alty foods and smoked meats, as well as a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Alcohol abuse along with poor oral hygiene.
- Hereditary factor and infectious mononucleosis.
- Presence of a tumor of the head, neck, as well as radiation exposure.
Among other things, the likelihood of developing this disease is increased by the following pathological processes and formations in the larynx:
- Presence of chronic untreated airway inflammationin the form of laryngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis.
- The appearance of chronic diseases of the teeth and gums.
- The presence of cysts, fibroids, scars, papillomas, pachydermia of the larynx and so on in a person.
Statistics show that throat cancer is much more common among people who live in large cities. This proves that the occurrence of the disease is influenced by the ecological situation, including.
Symptoms
It is worth noting that this disease in a severe form does not appear immediately, but can develop over long months, and sometimes even years. Unfortunately, people very often do not notice unpleasant symptoms in time, turning to doctors for help when the disease becomes incurable. Meanwhile, the symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages are quite recognizable. An exception to this rule has a zero stage (precancerous condition), in the presence of which a pathological change in the tissues does not manifest itself in any way and can only be detected as part of a random diagnostic study of the respiratory system.
So, the symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages are as follows: a person is usually worried about pain, pain or perspiration, as well as a dry cough. As a rule, these manifestations are taken by the patient for the symptoms of a cold. However, unlike otolaryngology, these signs are constantly observed and do not disappear after a while, but only intensify. It is important to emphasize that the pain of swelling of the throat after taking painkillers does not disappear, and the cough after specialized drugs does not go away either.
Signs of throat cancerimportant to recognize early. Since smokers mostly suffer from the disease, coughing is usually taken as a side effect of a bad habit. At first, it can be episodic, however, later it becomes permanent. Subfebrile temperature, anemia, numbness of the face, intradermal hemorrhage, swelling of the lymph nodes under the jaw or on the neck may be observed.
As the disease progresses, other symptoms appear in the form of hoarseness (which may be due to damage to the ligaments), deterioration in taste, sensation of a foreign body, difficulty in swallowing, bleeding, and the like. Large tumors can interfere with the process of breathing, and in patients with this, shortness of breath appears.
How does oncology of the throat manifest itself? Severe pains in the head and neck are likely, along with deterioration in sleep and hearing, traces of blood, pus from the nose, which have an unpleasant odor. In addition, patients lose appetite and weight. The state of he alth quickly worsens, irritability occurs. The tumor becomes visible from the outside due to the appearance of swelling on the neck. In the most severe cases, patients lose the ability to close or open their mouth. These symptoms indicate an advanced disease. Unfortunately, only at this stage, most patients turn to the doctor. Read more about the symptoms of throat cancer in women below.
Location of the tumor and features of symptoms
Depending on the location of the tumor, the signs of the disease may differ. With herpresence in the oropharynx and nasopharynx, the most characteristic is angina-like pain, bleeding from the tonsils and nose, a feeling of congestion, tooth loss and an increase in submandibular lymph nodes. As part of the supra-ligamentous localization, the following symptoms often appear: sensation of a foreign body along with itching and pain when swallowing. Voice changes occur only in the later stages of throat cancer.
Symptoms when localized in the region of the ligaments: pain during a conversation, change in voice or its complete loss. These manifestations can demonstrate themselves at the earliest stages. With a subglottic location, pain is often observed during the passage of food lumps, and there is also shortness of breath with shortness of breath. Voice change joins only at later dates.
Fourth stage
As part of the characteristics of the cancer in question, doctors use stages. Different stages of the disease correspond to certain manifestations. In addition, specific treatment methods can be applied for certain periods. There are four stages in total, and the prognosis for recovery worsens as oncology develops.
Of course, the fourth stage is the most dangerous. When it comes to this stage, patients experience loss of voice along with severe pain when swallowing and talking. Germination occurs in the surrounding tissue, lymph nodes are affected, and metastasis is aggravated. Many people wonder how long they live with stage 4 throat cancer?
The prognosis of survival in this case (within five years) is asusually only twenty-five percent. The rate of development of the disease directly depends on the age of the patient. Younger patients show a transient onset of symptoms.
Find out what test to take for oncology?
Diagnosis
Different methods can be used to diagnose the disease in question. It is far from always that a visual examination of patients by an otolaryngologist can detect the disease, especially at an early stage. In this regard, first of all, instrumental variants of the study are used. The simplest of these is laryngoscopy. This technique consists in examining the surface of the mucous membrane of the larynx using a special mirror and lamp.
How to examine the throat for oncology, the doctor should tell. Biopsy is of great importance in the framework of identifying the disease and carrying out its differentiation from other pathological processes, especially inflammatory ones. This technique consists in taking a piece of tissue for analysis from the affected area. Also, in order to identify the scale of pathological processes, diagnostic methods are used in the form of MRI and radiography, which allow to establish the presence of metastases, as well as determine the size of the tumor and its shape.
What test should I take for oncology?
Tests include a certain set of studies, whose main task is to carry out differential diagnosis with other pathologies and to detect a tumor at an early stage. Procedures are carried out as directed.the doctors. Typically, the following tests are required:
- Perform complete blood count and count WBC count.
- Coagulogram delivery.
- Histological examination of biopsy material.
Therapy Methods
The treatment strategy directly depends on the stage of the disease. At an early stage, the most effective treatment option is surgery to remove the tumor. It can be carried out in traditional ways or with a laser.
As part of the prevention of relapse or in preparation for surgery, the patient may be prescribed a course of chemotherapy. It should be borne in mind that in some cases, during the operation, the vocal cords can be removed, and, in addition, the tongue (in whole or in part), which subsequently significantly complicates or makes it impossible to speak along with eating.
In the later stages, the removal operation may not be possible. In this regard, chemotherapy and radiation treatment are used. In the latter case, the tumor is irradiated with a stream of high-energy particles that kill cancer cells. The goal in this case may be the complete destruction of the pathological formation or its significant reduction, as well as growth retardation. Sometimes radiation treatment precedes surgery.
Contraindications to radiation therapy are the germination of the tumor in the blood vessels and tissue of the esophagus, as well as the serious condition of the patient. Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic drugs that slow down the division of pathogenic cells. Cytostatics are administered intravenously, orally, intramuscularly, or directly into the area affected by the tumor.
But, unfortunately, any treatment measures are likely to be ineffective if the patient does not get rid of the habit of smoking. After the operation, a rehabilitation course will be required, which will include teaching speech skills. When, due to the large size of the formation, patients lose the ability to breathe, they are given a tracheostomy, during which a tube is inserted into the trachea.
Survival in throat cancer
It is worth noting that no specialist can predict how a malignant tumor in the throat will behave: whether it will respond to treatment or whether it will progress, even despite the ongoing treatment, is always in question. Specialists can only guess what will happen to the patient, based on clinical signs and general he alth. At the same time, one should not forget that each organism is individual, in connection with this, all kinds of deviations from the predicted forecast can be observed. What is the survival rate for throat cancer?
According to statistics collected over several years, patients with stage 1 throat cancer live five years after receiving the diagnosis in eighty-five percent of cases. And the five-year survival rate in patients with the fourth stage is only twenty percent. The determining factor may be laryngectomy, which is an operation aimed at removing the vocal cords. This surgical interventionusually prolongs life by stopping the subsequent spread of the tumor. But, as practice shows, not all patients give their consent to the implementation of such an operation.
Primary manifestations in women
The main symptoms of throat cancer in women at the initial stage are different from those in men. Signs are usually:
- Development of speech dysfunction in the form of a change in voice, which becomes especially noticeable with loud speech.
- The occurrence of an unreasonable cough.
- Having headaches.
- Presence of pain when swallowing food or saliva.
Symptomatology in women, appearing at the initial stage, requires immediate medical attention. It is worth noting that the five-year survival rate in patients with complex treatment at the zero stage is from ninety-six to one hundred percent, then this figure decreases.
Use of chemotherapy
In the presence of throat cancer, chemistry can be used in two modes:
- Before surgery or radiation to shrink the tumor.
- After surgery or radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
The patient receives medications, as a rule, systemically. When released into the bloodstream, they can affect the tissues and organs of the patient, which can lead to adverse reactions. Those in chemotherapy are determinedthe nature of the drug used, as well as its dosage. Usually the place have the following problems:
- Suppression of hematopoietic processes. This is accompanied by a decrease in the number of leukocytes, that is, those cells that are responsible for fighting infection. This can cause the development of an infectious complication.
- Hair loss. The fact is that epithelial cells are especially sensitive to the action of chemotherapeutic drugs. This is what leads to falling out. After stopping the therapy, the hair grows back, but there is a change in their texture, exactly like the color.
- Violation of the functions of the digestive system. Change in appetite along with vomiting, diarrhea, and sores on the lips and mouth.
Features of food
It is important to organize proper nutrition for throat cancer in order to avoid exhaustion and help the body fight pathology. Products must be thermally and mechanically well processed in order to be quickly absorbed and not injure the throat. It is advisable to eat well-chopped food, in small portions, at least five times a day. Foods that are recommended for the throat cancer diet are as follows:
- Using slimy pureed soups cooked in low-fat meat broth.
- Cereal porridge on the water.
- Boiled fish dishes that need to be ground with a blender.
- Pure mashed boiled potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, cabbages, beets and so on.
Be sure to exclude from the diet:
- Any fried, smoked, s altedproducts.
- Canned food condiments and spices.
- Food that is rich in carbohydrates, we are talking about flour products, cakes, pastries, sugar and so on.
Therapy with folk remedies
Everyone wants to find the best cure for throat cancer. Folk remedies such an ailment, unfortunately, cannot be cured. But at the same time, doctors agree that various herbs should be included in the treatment program as additional ways to deal with such a serious disease. For this, the following recipes are actively used:
- Mallow. This infusion is taken orally. Two tablespoons of dried flowers are infused in a liter of boiling water for one day, then the finished infusion is drunk 150 milliliters twice a day.
- Calamus root. In equal proportions, it is mixed with yarrow. A spoonful of dried flowers is poured into a glass of boiled water, then the product is infused until it cools. The finished medicine is drunk for twenty-four hours.
- Garlic is known for its antiparasitic properties. Twice a day for five days, you need to take eleven drops of garlic juice, which is done on an empty stomach. For the next five days, take twenty drops.
- Celandine. As part of this recipe, five tablespoons of dried flowers are infused in a liter of boiling water. The resulting infusion is drunk at the attraction of the day, the volume of liquid used should be at least 2 liters. Toxins in the composition of celandine destroy cancer cells, while the product is completely safe for he althhuman.
Prevention
Prophylaxis will help prevent the development of a tumor, the occurrence of complications. To this end, you must:
- follow the principles of a balanced diet (preferably consume fruits, vegetables, cereals, dairy products);
- limit consumption of spicy, s alty, fried foods;
- get rid of bad habits;
- keep an active lifestyle (walk outdoors, do light exercise);
- avoid contact with typical carcinogens, use special protective elements;
- constantly observe the rules of hygienic care for the larynx, oral cavity;
- Cancer and its complications can be protected by regular preventive examinations (this will help to identify the disease in the early stages with high accuracy and allow early and very successful treatment).
Thus, according to the statistics, men are more susceptible to the described disease. The pathology is very serious, therefore it requires an integrated approach using the methods of recognized as well as alternative medicine.
