Throat Cancer: Causes, Symptoms Treatment and Survival Rates

Pharyngeal cancer, or simply throat cancer, is more prevalent among males and the elderly than females. In Hong Kong, there are 476 recorded cases of lip, oral and pharyngeal cancer in 2018, forty per cent more than that of females with 263 cases. The incidence age starts from 45 years old. Without proper treatments, the age at death due to this cancer usually is over 65 years old. Like other types of cancer, its causes are still unknown, but scientists believe that persistent smoking and drinking raises the risk.

Locations of Throat Cancer

Although the sites of pharyngeal cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer (NPC) are next to each other, these types of cancer are categorised differently.

Pharyngeal cancer develops in the pharynx, which is the hollow tube that runs from behind your nose to the top of your windpipe. Pharyngeal cancers can start in the neck and throat including the soft palate (inside and upper back of the mouth), back tongue, both sides of the throat (tonsils), the back of the throat. All malignant tumours found in the above area are considered throat cancer.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer (NPC) starts in the nasopharynx, the upper part of the throat (pharynx) that lies behind the nose. It's a box-like chamber about 1½ inches on each edge. It lies just above the soft part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) and just in the back of the nasal passages. It is the most common type of head and neck cancer in Hong Kong.

Another type of cancer close to the throat is oral cancer, which develops in the lips, tongue, inner walls of the cheeks and salivary glands.

Types of Throat Cancer

Pharyngeal cancer can be further classified as below.

• Oropharynx cancer: Begin in the oropharynx, the part of your throat right behind your mouth that includes your tonsils.
• Hypopharyngeal cancer: Begin in the hypopharynx, the lower part of your throat, just above your oesophagus and windpipe.
• Laryngeal cancer: Form in the larynx (voice box). It is the most common type of pharyngeal cancer.

The throat is an integral part of the respiratory system, as well as the vocal cords. It also connects your oesophagus. Therefore, patients with pharyngeal cancer usually have difficulties breathing, speaking, and ingesting, which greatly affect their daily lives.

Symptoms of Throat Cancer

Depending on the tumour location, symptoms of throat cancer vary, but most of them relate to the abilities to breathe, speak and ingest.

• Difficulty or feeling pain swallowing
• Breathing problems, such as wheezing
• Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not speaking clearly
• Sore throat or ear pain
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or oral cavity
• Numbness or pain in the neck or oral cavity
• Persistent nasal congestion or nosebleeds
• Prolonged cough and blood in sputum

The above symptoms are the possible signs of pharyngeal cancer. If you have observed these signs, please consult your doctor as soon as possible. You could learn more about the diagnosis and the fees required for throat cancer here.

Causes of Throat Cancer

It's not clear what causes the mutation that causes throat cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase your risk.

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Diagnosed with head and neck cancer previously
• Received radiation therapy on the head and neck before
• Human papillomavirus infections (HPV) infection, a sexually transmitted virus
• Family history of pharyngeal or other cancer

Stages, Symptoms and Survival Rates of Throat Cancer

Like the other cancers, stages of throat cancer can be determined by the TNM system from the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). TNM stands for Tumor, Nodes and Metastasis:

T = The size of the tumour

N = Whether the tumour has spread to the lymph nodes, and to how many

M = Whether the tumour has spread to distant areas of the body, known as metastasis

In general, the five-year survival rates of throat cancer can be over 60% with proper treatments.

Treatments of Throat Cancer

According to the stage, your doctor may suggest one of or combined the following treatments, including:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
• Targeted drug therapy

These treatments aim to remove all the cancer cells and lower the chance of recurrence. You could learn more about the treatments here.

How to Prevent Throat Cancer

Tobacco and alcohol are the major risk factors for throat cancer. Quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, and lowering alcohol consumption could reduce your risk of cancer.

You could also have a healthy and balanced diet with regular exercises to strengthen your body and lower your risk.

Since HPV is also a risk factor for throat cancer, having HPV vaccination, for example, cervical cancer vaccination, can help mitigate your risk as well.

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