You can win your battle against throat cancer by staying positive. But first, the most important thing is that you do not ignore the signs of throat cancer. This form of cancer is highly treatable, especially if it is caught early. Small tumors in the throat can be removed with relatively little damage.
Throat cancer can be cancer of the throat, larynx, or tonsils. This cancer, which is not as common as other cancers, usually begins in the epithelial cells inside the throat, and the pharynx. The cancer – related throat can also damage the epiglottis, which cover the windpipe.
If the cancer spreads before it is found, the prognosis is less positive. To eradicate cancer cells, surgeons may have to remove parts of the vocal cords, jaw, laryngeal cage, tonsils, and oropharynx. Therefore, it is essential to consult with your doctor if you develop symptoms that persist for a long time.
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Risk factors for throat cancer.
Men are more susceptible to throat cancer than women. Certain habits and your lifestyle can put you at greater risk. These risky behaviors include:
- Smoke.
- Consume some type of smokeless tobacco.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Poor oral hygiene: brushing your teeth keeps your heart and throat healthy.
- Not getting proper nutrition.
- Exposure to asbestos.
- HPV infections, which are sexually transmitted viruses.
Recommendations to prevent throat cancer.
Here are 5 tips to reduce your risk of developing cancer and improve your overall health:
Quit tobacco.
Tobacco, in all its forms, increases your risk of developing cancer and other health disorders that make you more vulnerable. Quitting tobacco is an essential step in cancer prevention, so you should discuss your medical options with your doctor to help you quit.
Healthy nutrition.
Healthy food strengthens your body, clears your mind, and improves your spiritual health. You should eat a lot of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Ideally, there should be little or no food processing.
This means eating raw foods, avoiding added sugars, and consuming whole grains. Reduce your consumption of red meat, fat, and processed foods.
Manage your weight.
Both obese and underweight people are more susceptible to all types of cancer. Reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight with diet and exercise.
Do a hobby or sport that keeps you physically active, even if you are just walking around different parts of your city. Older people can make social connections and exercise healthy in a safe environment, such as by brisk walking at a local mall in the morning.
Protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases.
Infections like HPV can increase your risk of throat cancer. There are perfectly natural ways to protect yourself from sexual viruses. These include using condoms, avoiding body fluids, and never sharing needles. Avoid risky sexual practices, including unprotected sex and unsafe contact with the skin, genitals, and rectum.
Sexually transmitted diseases are common among those who have unprotected sex with multiple partners, and these viral and bacterial infections can weaken your body, even when there are no visible symptoms. Avoid any practice that tears the skin or causes bleeding.
It is essential to know your partners, and to avoid drugs and alcohol that harm your mental health.
Stay protected from UV rays.
Throat cancer is relatively rare, but skin cancer is common and often metastasizes to other areas. Protect yourself from harmful ultraviolet rays by using sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and stay in the shade. Avoid the sun completely between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Early warning signs of throat cancer.
The top 10 early warning symptoms of throat cancer include:
1. Sore throat.
The early stages of the disease almost always cause a sore throat. Unlike cold and flu pain, the pain doesn’t go away in a few days.
2. Weight loss.
Any form of cancer generally results in weight loss. A sore throat can make it even more difficult to eat and swallow normally, so weight loss can be rapid and severe.
3. Voice changes possible cause of throat cancer.
Your voice often changes when you develop throat cancer. That is where the laryngeal cage resides. Both laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers can cause hoarseness and changes in the sound of your voice.
According to the Cancer Center, laryngeal cancer often targets the vocal cords, but the good news is that these tumors are relatively easy to find and remove. Cancer that does not start in the vocal cords is usually more developed when hoarseness occurs.
4. Trouble swallowing is a sign of possible throat cancer.
It is common to have a hard time swallowing food normally. Food is often thrown back as if it were stuck in the throat. You may feel a burning sensation when trying to swallow.
5. Presence of a lump in the neck.
Enlarged lymph nodes are a significant symptom of many types of cancer. Nodules on the neck are located just below the back of the lower jaw on each side. There are many possible causes for enlarged lymph nodes, including the common cold. Nodules that are constantly growing and that do not swell or shrink are critical signs for you to see your doctor.
6. Cough as a sign of throat cancer.
A persistent cough that does not improve is a very telling symptom, especially if you start coughing up blood. Smokers must be able to detect the difference in smoker’s cough and cancer-related cough.
7. Trouble opening your mouth normally.
You can develop problems opening your mouth and chewing food.
8. Lump in the jaw, neck or mouth.
It is not just the lymph nodes that are symptoms of oral cancer. If you notice a lump anywhere on your mouth, jaw, throat, or neck, you should see a doctor immediately.
9. Nosebleeds.
Nosebleeds are common symptoms of oral cancers, especially if you are not generally susceptible to them.
10. Headaches.
Headaches are common and can range from pain behind the eyes to severe migraine-like pain. The pain can extend to the neck and shoulders.
If you develop any of these symptoms and they persist for more than a few days, you should see your doctor immediately. Throat cancer can be treated with great success in the early stages, but don’t lose hope if the disease is already in the advanced stages.