Larynx And Pharynx (Throat Cancer )

What Is It?

Throat cancer occurs when cells in the organs used for breathing, speaking and swallowing begin to divide abnormally and out of control. Most throat cancer begins on the vocal cords, and later spreads to the voice box (larynx), to the back portion of the throat that includes part of the tongue and the tonsils (this area is collectively called the pharynx), or below the voice box to the subglottis and trachea. An early symptom of throat cancer is unexplained hoarseness in the voice.

Smokers are at high risk of throat cancer. Other people at risk include those who drink a lot of alcohol, especially if they also smoke. People with a vitamin A deficiency and certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection also may be more likely to develop throat cancer.

Throat cancer is associated with other cancers. Fifteen percent of throat cancer patients also are diagnosed at the same time with cancer of the mouth, esophagus or lung. Another 10 percent to 20 percent of people with throat cancer develop these other cancers later on.

Throat cancer is more common among men, probably because smoking is more common among men. This type of cancer is less common among people under age 55. Many throat cancers can be treated successfully, but the treatment may affect the person's ability to speak.

Symptoms

When throat cancer affects your vocal cords, the first symptom is a change in the sound of your voice, especially a persistent rasp or hoarseness. Other symptoms of throat cancer include:

• Painful or difficult swallowing
• Persistent sore throat
• A sense of a "lump in the throat" or a need to swallow
• Swelling or pain in the neck
• Enlarged glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
• A persistent cough
• Wheezing or raspy breathing
• Unexplained weight loss
• Coughing up blood

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects you have throat cancer, he or she will examine your throat. This can be done with a long-handled mirror or with a lighted tube called a laryngoscope. A local anesthetic might be used to ease discomfort. If abnormalities are found, your doctor will do a biopsy, which involves removing tissue for examination in a laboratory under a microscope. Throat cancer can only be confirmed through a biopsy. Your doctor might send you for a test called a Computed tomography (CT) scan. This special type of X-ray provides images of the body from different angles, producing a cross-sectional view. A CT scan can help to find the location of a tumor, help to judge whether a tumor can be removed surgically and help to determine the cancer's stage of development.