Throat cancer? Let's be aware of this dangerous disease (Hypopharyngeal Cancer)

Do you have a persistent sore throat, a change in your voice, or a feeling like something is stuck in your throat? We often dismiss these as normal. But sometimes they can be signs of a more serious condition than we think. Today we are talking about Hypopharyngeal Cancer , a rare but rapidly spreading type of throat cancer. Don't worry, we will talk about everything in a simple and clear way.

Simply put, what is Hypopharyngeal Cancer?

This is a cancer that develops in the lower part of our throat (pharynx), specifically behind the part called the larynx that produces our voice. What happens in this case is that the cells in that area become abnormal, divide uncontrollably, and form tumors. One of the most dangerous things about this type of cancer is that it can quickly spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body . Also, because it does not show major symptoms in the early stages, many people may be a little late in detecting it.

But this is not a very common cancer. For example, when compared to lung cancer, this disease is reported much less frequently. However, even though it is rare, it is very important to be aware of this.

What are the symptoms of this cancer?

As we mentioned earlier, there may be no major symptoms in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, the following symptoms may appear. If you have one or more of these for more than two weeks, you should definitely see your doctor .

Why does this cancer develop? What are the risk factors?

The exact cause of this cancer is not yet known. However, several key factors have been identified that greatly increase the risk of developing this disease.

• Smoking: This is the main and biggest risk factor for throat cancer. This includes not only cigarettes, cigars, and beedis, but also everything like chewing tobacco and using snuff.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: This risk is much higher for people who drink alcohol daily and in large quantities. The risk is even higher if you drink alcohol along with smoking.
• HPV Infection: HPV stands for Human Papillomavirus. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This virus can enter the throat through oral sex with an infected person and cause cancer cells.

How to diagnose the disease?

When you see a doctor with the symptoms you mentioned above, he or she will ask you about your symptoms and how long they have been present. They may also ask about your smoking and alcohol use. Then, they will check your neck for lumps.

After that, you will probably be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, who can run several tests to confirm the diagnosis.

1. Endoscopy: This involves inserting a thin tube with a camera attached down your throat to examine the lower part of your throat and larynx. This allows your doctor to check for any cancerous conditions.

2. Biopsy: If cancer is suspected, a small piece of tissue is taken from the area and examined under a microscope. This can be done using methods such as ``Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA)``. This is the only way to be 100% sure whether cancer cells are present or not.

3. Imaging tests: If the biopsy confirms that there is cancer, imaging tests are done to see how far the cancer has spread and whether it has spread to other organs. A CT scan, MRI scan, or PET scan may be used for this.

Cancer Staging

After performing all of these tests, the oncologist will determine the stage and grade of your cancer.

• Stage: This tells you how big the cancer is and how far it has spread. It is categorized from Stage I (early stage) to Stage IV (most advanced stage).
• Grade: This refers to how quickly the cancer cells are likely to grow and spread.

What are the treatment options?

Treatment options depend on the stage of your cancer, how far it has spread, and your overall health. The main treatments are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Surgery

This involves surgically removing the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissue.

• Pharyngectomy: Removal of part or all of the throat.
• Laryngectomy: Removal of the larynx (voice box). If this is done, you will need other ways to speak and breathe. A permanent opening (stoma) will need to be made in your neck to breathe.
• Neck dissection: Removal of lymph nodes in the neck if the cancer has spread.
• Transoral robotic surgery (TORS): Using robotic technology to remove tumors in hard-to-reach areas through the mouth.
• Reconstructive surgery: Surgery to restore function (to help swallow food, speak) after parts of the throat have been removed.

What happens after treatment?

This cancer can `recur` after treatment. There is also a risk of developing a new cancer elsewhere in the body. Therefore, it is very important to continue to be under medical supervision even after treatment.

Your medical team will ask you to come for follow-up appointments on a specific schedule.

• Every two months for the first year.
• Once every four months in the second year.
• Once every six months in the third year.
• Then once a year for five years.

Sometimes these tests may be necessary throughout life.

Are there ways to protect yourself from this disease?

Yes, absolutely. There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing this cancer.

• Avoid smoking completely. Also, avoid breathing in secondhand smoke when someone else is smoking.
• Stop drinking alcohol or limit it greatly.
• Protect yourself from the HPV virus. You can get the HPV vaccine for this. And follow safe sex practices.

Throat cancer, Hypopharyngeal Cancer, Throat pain, Difficulty swallowing, Cancer symptoms, Smoking, Cancer treatment