All types of cancer are life-threatening conditions and they are best treated in their early stages. This is why understanding signs, symptoms, and treatments of throat cancer and other forms of cancer is so important, as it means the condition can be detected as early as possible. Some 25,000 people in this country are diagnosed with throat cancer each year.

The Causes of Throat Cancer:

Before understanding signs, symptoms, and treatments of throat cancer, it is important to understand its causes. The main causes are smoking and alcohol consumption. However, the polluted air we breathe can also contribute, particularly with how rapidly these cancers can grow. Asbestos, poor dental hygiene, and an unhealthy diet all play a factor as well. The cancer is twice as common in men than in women, and most people who develop it are at least 45 years old.

There are different types of throat cancer:

  • Glottic cancer
  • Hypopharyngeal cancer
  • Oropharyngeal cancer
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Nasopharyngeal cancer

Understanding Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments of Throat Cancer:

Throat cancer is often a fatal disease, although it has some clear signs and symptoms that could help people detect it early enough to be able to treat it. These include:

  • Sore throat that continues even after receiving treatment
  • Hoarseness in voice
  • Coughing up blood
  • Weight loss
  • Chest pains
  • Swelling in the neck
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Fever
  • Paralysis or numbness in the neck and/or face muscles
  • Difficulty swallowing and breathing
  • Swelling and pain in the jaws

If throat cancer is determined to be present, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are usually the first courses of treatment offered. Unfortunately, these are not always effective and few other forms of treatment can work. However, if the cancer is diagnosed early enough, then a lot of treatment is available to get rid of the tumor and cancerous cells. Naturally, patients must make efforts towards that themselves as well, stopping smoking and avoiding alcohol immediately. This does require a lot of willpower, but if your life is on the line, willpower reserves are often much stronger than people expected. Additionally, it is believed that yoga and meditation can benefit people who have cancer. While these will not cure the condition, they can strengthen determination and leave people healthier overall, particularly in terms of their mental health. Consuming a healthy diet is always important, particularly if cancer has been diagnosed.

Surgery may be offered on top of chemotherapy and radiotherapy if that is applicable. Over recent years, laser surgery has gained a lot in popularity. This shrinks or even destroys the tumor by hitting it with laser light. Once it is small enough, it can be removed through a tube in the throat. Chemotherapy drugs are then usually administered to further kill the cells and rid the body of the cancer, which is further supported by radiation therapy. This can be very effective, but only if the cancer has not yet advanced to the later stages. Some people also have to lose their voice box, depending on where the tumor is located, after which they can be fitted with a microphone.