Tonsil Cancer? - Don't be afraid, let's be aware of this.

Do you have a sore throat that doesn't go away in a few days? Or do you find that one tonsil looks bigger than the other when you look in the mirror? We often dismiss these things as a common cold or an inflamed tonsil. But sometimes, these can be early signs of something more serious, namely tonsil cancer. Don't worry, you don't need to panic when you hear this name. The most important thing is to be properly informed about this. Today, we will talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is tonsil cancer?

Tonsil cancer is a cancer that develops in the two glands at the back of your throat called the tonsils. These tonsils are located in the back wall of your throat, or the part of your throat called the ``pharynx.'' In fact, tonsil cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that develops in the throat, or ``oropharyngeal cancer.''

The best part is that this cancer is almost completely curable if detected early, before it spreads to other parts of the body. That's why it's so important to be aware of the symptoms.

But this is not a very common cancer. That means it is not a disease that affects everyone. But it is good for people with risk factors to be especially careful about this.

You should be concerned about these symptoms.

The main and most common symptom of tonsil cancer is a sore throat that does not subside for days or weeks. In addition, one of the main symptoms is swelling of only one tonsil and it becomes larger than the other. Let's take a closer look at these symptoms.

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

Scientists are still not 100% sure exactly why healthy cells turn into cancer cells. However, they have now identified several key risk factors that contribute to this.

1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV): This is the most important risk factor that has been identified. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. Research has shown that some strains of this virus, especially HPV-16, have a strong influence on the development of tonsil cancer.

2. Tobacco use: Not only cigarettes, cigars, and beedis, but also e-cigarettes (vaping) are a risk. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the cells in the throat and cause cancer.

3. Excessive alcohol consumption: A person who drinks alcohol while smoking is at a much higher risk of developing this cancer. When these two are combined, the risk of cancer increases even more.

4. Weak immune system: People with HIV or those taking immunosuppressants due to an organ transplant are at increased risk of developing this type of cancer.

How does the doctor diagnose this? (Diagnosis)

When you go to a doctor with the symptoms you mentioned above, the first thing he or she will do is examine your throat carefully. They will check for any changes in your tonsils, sores, etc. They may also do a throat culture to check for an infection.

If there is even the slightest suspicion of tonsil cancer, he will refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT Surgeon - Otolaryngologist). There, he will need to do some further tests.

Biopsy

This is the only way to be sure whether it is cancer or not. This involves taking a very small piece of tissue from the suspicious tonsil and examining it under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This can be done in several ways.

• Incisional Biopsy: A small incision is made to obtain a piece of tissue.
• Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA): If there is a lump in the neck, a fine needle is inserted and a small sample of cells is removed for examination.

Imaging Tests

If the biopsy confirms that it is cancer, the next step is to see how far it has spread and whether it has spread to other places. Tests like these are used for that.

• CT scans (Computed Tomography scans)
• MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans)
• PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography scans)

The results of these tests determine the stage of the cancer. Treatment is planned based on that stage. Simply put, early stage means that the cancer is limited to the tonsils. Later stage means that it has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs and is called metastasize.

What are the treatments?

There are several treatments for tonsil cancer. The best treatment for you will depend on the size of the tumor, its location, whether it has spread, and your overall health. The main treatments are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

1. Surgery

If the cancer is small and in its early stages, it can be completely removed with surgery.

• Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS): This is the newest and most advanced method. Using robotic technology, the cancerous tumor is removed very delicately from inside the mouth and into the back of the throat. Since there is no large incision, the recovery is faster.
• Lymphadenectomy (Neck Dissection): If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, a section of the neck will be cut and those lymph nodes will be removed.

2. Radiation Therapy

This involves using high-energy rays (such as X-rays) to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is sometimes given as an alternative to surgery, or to kill any cancer cells that may remain after surgery.

3. Chemotherapy

This involves giving the body powerful drugs that kill cancer cells. This is usually given if the cancer has spread a lot, or to enhance the effects of radiation therapy.

Are there any side effects of the treatment?

Yes, like any cancer treatment, there can be some side effects, but there are now many ways to manage them.

• After surgery: Bleeding, infection, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and changes in voice may occur.
• After radiation and chemotherapy , fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, mouth sores, and loss of appetite are common.

Most of these side effects are temporary. They gradually subside once the treatment is over. It is very important to eat well and follow the doctor's instructions during this time.

Is there a way to prevent this cancer?

Although it cannot be completely prevented, there are several things you can do to reduce the risk.

• Avoid smoking completely: Stop using any type of tobacco.
• Limit alcohol consumption: It is best to reduce it as much as possible.
• Protect yourself from HPV: Getting the HPV vaccine can protect you from strains of the virus, such as HPV-16, which are the main cause of this cancer. Safe sex is also important.
• Take care of your oral health: Have your mouth checked regularly by a dentist. This will help detect changes at an early stage.