Throat cancer refers to cancer that develops in the pharynx or larynx, often starting in the flat cells lining the throat or originating in the larynx, where the vocal cords are located.
Like other cancers, throat cancer develops when cells grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor in the throat. And, as with many other cancers, the exact cause of the mutation behind it isn’t known.
Throat Cancer Risk Factors
While no single cause has been identified for throat cancer, several factors are known to increase the risk:
- Alcohol consumption
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Exposure to chemical substances
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human papillomavirus (HPV)
For this reason, it’s important to reduce these risk factors, drinking alcohol in moderation, quitting smoking, and protecting against HPV.
Symptoms of Throat Cancer
Whether it’s laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer, symptoms tend to be similar and include:
If the cancer originates in the vocal cords, it often causes voice changes such as hoarseness; this can also occur with cancers that start elsewhere in the throat, but typically only once the disease reaches a more advanced stage.
Beyond voice changes, which are always related to the vocal cords being affected, whether from the cancer originating there or spreading to that area, someone with this disease may also experience:
- Persistent sore throat.
- Ear pain.
- Pain or difficulty swallowing.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Breathing difficulties.
- Persistent cough.
- A lump in the neck, which occurs when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
It’s important to keep in mind that these symptoms can also be related to many other conditions, which is why you should seek specialized medical care for an accurate diagnosis.
Types of Throat Cancer
Throat cancer refers to cancer that develops in the pharynx or larynx, and although most types involve the same kind of cells, different terms identify the specific area where it originated.
- Glottic cancer
Glottic cancer specifically begins in the vocal cords.
- Hypopharyngeal cancer
Also known as laryngopharyngeal cancer, this type occurs in the lower part of the throat, just above the trachea and esophagus.
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
The nasopharynx is the part of the throat located behind the nose.
- Oropharyngeal cancer
Oropharyngeal cancer occurs in the oropharynx, the part of the throat behind the mouth that also includes the tonsils.
- Subglottic cancer
This type begins in the lower part of the larynx, below the vocal cords.
- Supraglottic cancer
This type originates in the upper part of the larynx, including the epiglottis, the cartilage that prevents food from entering the trachea.
Treatment for Throat Cancer
Once a specialist diagnoses throat cancer through endoscopy, biopsy, or imaging tests, they consider each patient’s specific characteristics, such as the cancer’s location and stage, the cell type involved, and whether HPV is present, among other factors.
It’s worth noting that human papillomavirus can be a significant factor in the development of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, including cases involving HPV infection in cancerous tonsils.
Once all of this is understood, the doctor can choose one or more treatment options, which may include:
- Radiation therapy: used to treat small throat cancers that haven’t yet spread to the lymph nodes; it can also be used as a supportive treatment for more advanced cases.
- Surgery: this can serve different purposes, such as removing a small tumor, removing the entire larynx, removing part of the throat, or removing the lymph nodes.
- Chemotherapy: typically used together with radiation therapy.
- Targeted therapy: uses specific medications designed to target the defects present in cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: typically used in cases where throat cancer is advanced and hasn’t responded to other treatments.
At ABC Medical Center’s Cancer Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Reach out with any questions about throat cancer. Contact us!
