Health Tips

Pharyngeal Cancer:-
What is throat cancer?.

In the pharynx, often called the throat, is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and the percentage drops to the neck to become part of the esophagus (tube that goes to the stomach). Food, air and pass through the pharynx on the way to the trachea (windpipe) or esophagus. Oropharyngeal cancer is often categorized as follows:

*Nesopharynx:-
In the Nesopharynx behind the nose and upper throat. Nostril, and the holes in the nose which people breathe, and lead to the Nasopharynx. Two holes in the side of the lead Nasopharynx in the ear. Nasopharynx cancer most commonly begins in the cells lining the throat.

*pharynx:-
The pharynx is the central part of the throat. And includes the pharynx, soft palate (the back of the mouth), and the base of the tongue, and tonsils. Oropharyngeal cancer most commonly begins in the cells lining the throat.

*hypopharynx:-
And hypopharynx is the lower part of the throat. Hypopharynx cancer most commonly begins in the cells that line the hypopharynx, called squamous cell.

A doctor should see whether the person has a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the back of the mouth or throat, change in voice, or pain in the ear.

If there are symptoms of esophageal cancer, a doctor will examine the throat using a mirror and lights. The doctor will also feel the throat for lumps. If tissue that is not normal, if any, and the doctor will need to cut a small piece and look at it under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells pharynx. This is called a biopsy.

Chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the location of the cancer in the throat, whether the cancer is only in the throat or spread to other tissues (theater), and the patient's general state of health. After treatment of oropharyngeal cancer, the doctor should be seen on a regular basis because there is a chance of a second cancer in the head or neck.


Symptoms:-

Symptoms that are common between the President and several sites and neck cancer include a lump or ulcer does not heal, and sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and to change or hoarseness. Other symptoms of esophageal cancer may include the following:

* Symptoms of esophageal cancer and hypopharynx - the pain of the ear.
* Nasopharynx cancer symptoms of breathing problems or speak, headache, pain or ringing in the ears, or hearing problems.

These symptoms may be caused by esophageal cancer or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to check with your doctor or dentist about any of these symptoms.

Diagnosis:-
To find the cause of the symptoms of esophageal cancer, a doctor assesses a person's medical history, performs a physical examination, and orders diagnostic tests. Examinations and tests conducted may vary depending on the symptoms of cancer of the pharynx. Some exams and tests that may be useful are outlined below:
*Physical examination:-
Physical examination may include visual inspection of the cavities of the mouth and nose, neck, throat and tongue using a small mirror and / or lights. The doctor may also feel for lumps on the neck, lips, gums, and cheeks.

*Endoscopy:-
Endoscopy is the use of a thin, lighted tube called a gastroscope to examine areas inside the body. Type of endoscope the doctor uses depends on the area being examined. For example, the telescope is inserted through the mouth to view the throat; for esophagoscope is inserted through the mouth to examine the esophagus; nasopharyngoscope and is inserted through the nose so the doctor can see in the nasal cavity and nasal pharynx to help people with throat cancer diagnosis.

*Laboratory tests:-
Laboratory tests examine samples of blood, urine, or other substances from the body.

*X-rays:-
X-rays to create pictures of areas inside the head and neck on the film.

*CT (or CAT) scan:-
CT (or CAT) scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the head and neck created by a computer linked to reaching a x-ray machine.

*Magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI):-
Magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) uses magnets to connect a computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the head and neck.

*Biopsy:-
Biopsy is the removal of tissue for examination under a microscope. There are studies in pathology and tissue for a diagnosis of cancer of the pharynx. Biopsy is the only sure way to know whether a person is suffering from cancer of the pharynx.

If the diagnosis is cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, which parts of the body. Staging may involve surgery, x-rays and other imaging procedures, and laboratory tests. Knowledge stage of the disease and help doctors plan treatment of cancer of the pharynx.


Treatment:-
Treatment for esophageal cancer depends on the location of the tumor, as well as in the stage of the cancer, the person's age and public health. Treatment options to reduce the damage a person's ability to eat, breathe and speak.

Of the Oropharynx:-
There are treatments for all patients who suffer from cancer of the pharynx. Three types of treatment are used:

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Surgery (taking out the cancer)
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Radiation Therapy (using high-dose X-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells, pharynx)
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Chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells, pharynx)
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High temperature (high temperature of the body to kill cancer cells pharynx) is being tested in clinical trials.
Surgery:-
Surgery to treat common cancer in the throat. A doctor may remove the cancer and some healthy tissue around the cancer. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, and lymph nodes can be removed (lymph node dissection). There is a new type of surgery called micrographic surgery is being tested in clinical trials for cancer early in the throat. Micrographic surgery to remove cancer and normal tissue as little as possible. During this surgery, the doctor removes the cancer and then uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure there are no cancer cells remaining pharynx.
Radiotherapy:-
Radiotherapy uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a device outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in the area where cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy). External radiation in the thyroid gland or pituitary gland may change the way in which the thyroid gland. The doctor may want to test the thyroid gland before and after treatment to make sure they are working properly. Drug administration with radiation therapy to make cancer cells more sensitive to the pharynx radiation (radiosensitization) is being tested in clinical trials. If you stop smoking before the radiation therapy is started, and there is a better chance of surviving for a longer period.
Chemotherapy:-
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells pharynx. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be placed inside the body by injection into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, and travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body.

People with cancer of the mouth and pharynx have a higher risk for other types of cancer in the head and neck area. Clinical trials for the treatment of esophageal chemoprevention is to test whether certain drugs can prevent second cancers from developing countries in the mouth, throat, trachea, nose, or esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and stomach).
Hyperthermia:-
Hyperthermia uses a special device to heat the body for a certain period of time to kill cancer cells. Because cancer cells are often more sensitive to heat than normal cells, cancer cells, esophageal cancer die shrinks.

Because the throat and helps with breathing, eating, talking, and patients may need special help to cope with the side effects of cancer and treatment. A doctor will consult with several types of doctors who can help determine the best treatment of cancer of the pharynx. Training of personnel in the medical field and can also help patients recover from treatment, and to adapt to new ways to eat and talk. Plastic surgery, or help learning to eat and speak, and be needed if a large part of the pharynx taken out.