This article looks at the first symptoms of throat cancer.
This is a very common pathology, however, it cannot be said that it is among the leaders among other malignant tumors. The frequency of occurrence of this type of cancer is approximately 8%, and most often such a tumor is found in elderly men, smokers and people suffering from frequent inflammatory processes of the larynx. In women, this cancer of the throat is much less common.
What are the first symptoms and signs of throat cancer? In the photo in the article you can see where the tumor develops.
The risk of pathology increases significantly in smokers, regardless of gender and age. In addition, it is noted that residents of large cities suffer from malignant tumors of the larynx more often than people living in villages.
What are the symptoms of throat cancer?
The disease in the early stages of development does not differ in the occurrence of specific symptoms, therefore, for a long period it can hide under the guise of a variety of inflammatory processes, which leads to untimely diagnosis and difficulties in treatment.
Risk Factors and Pre-Cancer
Malignant neoplasms most often develop against the background of existing pathological processes or under the influence of external adverse factors.
Among the risk factors, the following are of primary importance:
- Smoking, which at times increases the risk of cancer formation.
- Work in hazardous industries - in dust, gas, high or low temperatures.
- The use of alcoholic beverages, vapors of which irritate the mucous membrane of the larynx.
- Excessive voice stress inherent in singers and teachers.
Changes that may precede the onset of signs and symptoms of throat cancer:
- Chronic forms of laryngitis, especially in cases of development of mucosal hyperplasia.
- Papilloma of the larynx.
- Leukoplakia - the formation of keratinization of the mucosa, as well as other dystrophic changes against the background of chronic inflammatory processes.
- Pachydermia.
The precancerous condition, which most often turns into a malignant tumor, includes laryngeal papilloma and epithelial dysplasia, accompanied by other changes in the mucous membrane.
Symptoms of cancer of the throat and larynx are important to recognize in a timely manner.
Features of the formation and structure of a throat tumor
An important characteristic of a malignant tumor in the throat is its histological structure. Since most of the larynx is covered with stratified epithelium, which becomes a source of neoplasia, the most common forms of cancer in this case are squamous, keratinized, or keratinized.
A photo of the symptoms of throat and larynx cancer is presented below.
When cancer cells develop to the stage that is accompanied by the formation of a horn substance, keratinizing cancer occurs. It is considered a differentiated version, which is characterized by slow growth and later metastasis. The prognosis for the patient in this situation is relatively favorable.
When malignant cells do not form a horny substance, it is a low-grade non-keratinized cancer. This option is characterized by rapid growth and metastasis and, as a consequence, an unfavorable prognosis.
Signs and symptoms of throat cancer can develop both exophytic and infiltrative, deepening into the tissue and not violating the surface of the mucosa at the initial stages of development.
Most often the vestibular section is affected. This localization of the laryngeal tumor is considered the most unfavorable in terms of metastasis and subsequent course. A little less often, a tumor develops on average and rarely in the lower section.
The vestibular localization of the neoplasm is characterized by violent metastasis, since in this section there is a large amount of fiber and a developed network of lymphatic vessels. According to them, pathological cells reach the regional lymph nodes. In addition, often such tumors are found in advanced stages, which is directly related to non-specific symptoms that hide the disease under the guise of pharyngitis.
In the middle section, cancer is detected less frequently, and its location can be considered favorable. The tumor in this case is one-sided and affects the vocal cords. It grows in the form of a tuberous formation, which eventually ulcerates and becomes inflamed with the application of fibrin, which gives the tumor a whitish hue. As the malignancy grows, the mobility of the vocal folds is limited up to their absolute immobilization.
As for the metastasis of oncology of the larynx, its intensity depends on the age of the patient - the younger he is, the faster it happens.
Symptoms of throat cancer vary in stages.
Stages
To determine the stage of malignant tumors in the larynx, oncologists use the traditional classification of TNM, which most accurately characterizes the features of the malignant process. The symbol T indicates the location of the tumor and its size, N - changes in the lymph nodes, M - the presence or absence of metastases. Based on this, it is possible to determine the stages of the cancer process, which include:
- First stage. Symptoms of throat cancer are mild or none at all. It is characterized by the small size of the tumor, which does not reach the border of the anatomical sections of the larynx in the absence of metastases.
- At the second stage, education occupies the entire department and reaches its borders, nevertheless, metastasis is still not observed.
- In the third stage, the formation is able to go beyond the throat and grow into neighboring tissues. At the same time, there is an increase in regional lymph nodes and sometimes distant metastases.
- At the fourth stage of the oncological process, the presence of distant metastasis is observed, regardless of the size of the tumor and the nature of the damage to the lymph nodes. Symptoms of throat cancer are pronounced.
Signs of laryngeal cancer
The main signs of cancer in this area do not differ in the specificity and severity of symptoms, especially in the early stages of development, so often patients are not in a hurry to see a doctor.
Changes that are not treatable and even exacerbated make people still seek medical help.
The most characteristic symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages are:
- dryness in the nasopharynx, inconvenience when swallowing, sore throat;
- voice changes.
These signs are often observed in patients who suffer from chronic pharyngitis or laryngitis, as well as in older smokers and older people. Such manifestations can for a long time hide the presence of a malignant process.
Later, similar symptoms of cancer of the throat and larynx are joined by pains that are permanent and can be given to the ear, and in advanced cases, there is a manifestation of cancer intoxication and cachexia.
For the early stage of throat cancer, the occurrence of these symptoms is characteristic, as well as the presence of a tumor-like neoplasm in the larynx, which is determined by laryngoscopy.
Symptoms of throat cancer in women and men are determined by the location of neoplasia in one of its parts. Thus, during the formation of a malignant neoplasm in the upper part, pharyngitis-like symptoms occur: dryness, difficulty swallowing, a feeling of the presence of a foreign body, perspiration. Later, ulcers and decay of tissue formation may occur, which often causes putrid mouth odor and blood admixture in sputum that is separated by coughing.
But since the symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages are often absent, the pathology is diagnosed precisely when the manifestations are already pronounced.
Neoplasia, developing in the middle section, usually affects the vocal cords, and the first signs of the disease become a violation of speech functions: a change in the timbre of the voice, hoarseness, and sometimes a complete lack of voice. In cases of exophytic development of a malignant formation, respiratory failure can be observed, and when the tumor grows in the neck, difficulty swallowing.
With the progression of the tumor in any part of the larynx, especially with the development of metastases, there are signs of intoxication, decreased appetite, people lose weight and become apathetic. To these symptoms are added pains, characterized by the growth of a tumor in neighboring tissues, as well as damage to blood vessels, nerve endings and cartilage.
With the further development of the neoplasm, its growth into the esophagus can be observed, which is often accompanied by dysphagia and digestive disorders.
Symptoms in Throat Cancer Women
Consultation with a dentist or otolaryngologist is mandatory if at least three of the symptoms described below appear (provided that they do not disappear after 10-14 days): hoarseness (sometimes a complete loss); barking cough without sputum discharge; sensation of a “lump” in the throat; difficulty swallowing saliva or food (even a liquid consistency); the presence of blood veins in saliva, sputum or nasal secretions; a feeling of sore throat without signs of colds; severe swelling in the tissues of the neck; enlarged lymph nodes in the cervical region; violation of the taste buds; bitter taste in the mouth; sore throat (reminds pain in tonsillitis); ear pain (hearing impairment and complete deafness are possible); bad breath; difficulty breathing (short, intermittent, painful breathing).
Diagnosis of the disease
Like any malignant tumor, throat cancer must be detected as early as possible, because only in this case it is possible to achieve positive results from treatment.
If you have symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages, you should visit an ENT specialist who will prescribe all the necessary examinations. Examination of the pharynx allows you to establish the fact of the occurrence of any neoplasm. The doctor pays special attention to the condition of the cervical lymph nodes, the increase of which is the first sign of cancer. With the help of palpation, their consistency, size and mobility are determined. As the tumor develops, the lymph nodes become denser, enlarge, and their poor displacement is observed until complete fixation in the tissues.
The main method for diagnosing the symptoms and first signs of throat cancer at an early stage is laryngoscopy, which allows you to see the tumor in the vestibular region, as well as on the vocal folds. For a more detailed diagnosis, laryngoscopy is supplemented by the use of microscopes (microlaryngoscopy).
Very often, for diagnostic purposes, symptoms of throat cancer in the early stages use x-ray studies, CT and MRI, which allows you to assess the condition of the throat in various projections.
An obligatory component of diagnostic measures is histology. When the presence of a malignant neoplasm is determined during laryngoscopy, but the histological examination does not confirm it, a second biopsy is possible. Such cases may be associated with the surface capture of biological material, as well as the presence of inflammation in the tumor and its combination with a concomitant disease, for example, tuberculosis.
The first symptoms of throat cancer in the photo presented in the article reflect the area of localization of the disease.
If the diagnosis cannot be established after a triple biopsy, the patient is removed the tumor (partially or completely) with a referral to an urgent histological examination. In the case of determining the diagnosis, surgical measures are continued by removal of the larynx according to the technology adopted for the treatment of such diseases.
Despite the relatively small range of diagnostic methods for determining laryngeal cancer, its early detection is quite possible.
What to do when detecting symptoms of throat cancer in the early and late stages?
Treatment options and options for laryngeal cancer
The treatment of this pathology is a very difficult task, especially when it comes to advanced cases. The throat is a very complex unpaired organ, so its removal entails a serious disability of a person. In such cases, it is very important to detect cancer in its initial form, which allows you to maintain independent breathing, swallowing and the ability to speak.
The choice of surgical therapy method, as well as the need for radiation and chemotherapy depends on the stage, localization and histological structure of the malignant neoplasm.
The main and most effective treatment for such a disease is surgery to remove the tumor. This treatment in most cases is accompanied by radiation therapy.
The stage of the disease also determines the amount of surgery. For example, with the first symptoms of cancer of the throat and larynx, sometimes it is enough to remove the tumor itself, and on the second, the cancerous section. In the third and fourth degrees of the oncological process in the larynx, they often resort to radical methods of removing the entire larynx.
At the present stage of development of medicine, the main varieties of such operations are:
- Laryngectomy - removal of the larynx is a very traumatic and difficult type of treatment.
- Resection - removal of a part of the throat.
- Reconstructive and plastic surgery, which is aimed at restoring the functions of breathing and swallowing after laryngectomy.
In the presence of a small tumor on the vocal folds, one of these folds can be removed. This manipulation is called "chorectomy." It is very effective, especially during subsequent radiation therapy. Removing a half of the throat is called a hemilaryngectomy. Photos of the symptoms of throat cancer are presented in the article.
With cancerous tumors of the third stage, as well as with the impossibility of resection, as a rule, a total laryngectomy is performed with removal of the hyoid bone, as well as the root of the tongue. Such surgery is very traumatic, after which the patient has no chance of spontaneous breathing and nutrition, which is an indication for a tracheostomy - installing a special apparatus on the neck for breathing and a nasophageal probe.
If lymph nodes are involved in the process, they are also removed along with the tissue of the neck and other affected tissues.
Radiation therapy is also a very relevant method in the fight against a malignant tumor of the larynx, and in the early stages of cancer it can be used as an independent therapy. In this case, external and internal irradiation is performed using different carriers that are injected directly into the affected tissue.
With the help of such irradiation, the tumor can be reduced in size, which helps prevent the development of relapse in the postoperative period.
Radiation and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant tumors of the larynx plays only an auxiliary role and is used as an adjunct to surgery and radiation therapy. The purpose of using chemotherapy is to prevent the possible spread of cancer cells through the blood and lymph vessels, which is metastases.
In all cases of development of malignant neoplasms of the larynx, prescription of pain medications, vitamins and antioxidants is mandatory, and antibiotic therapy should be carried out in the postoperative period to ensure the prevention of various infectious complications.
Folk remedies and nutrition
Folk remedies for such diseases do not have independent significance and can be used only as components of complex therapy. To rinse the throat, you can use various infusions and decoctions of herbs - chamomile, bay leaf, St. John's wort, oak bark, etc. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that larynx cancer cannot be defeated by such means, on the contrary, you can only aggravate the situation by untimely treatment with traditional methods.
Nutrition for oncological diseases of the throat does not differ significantly from the usual one, however, it is necessary to adhere to a more sparing diet, which provides for the limited use of rough, very hot and cold food. In addition, you should completely stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
Disease prognosis
The prognosis for malignant tumors of the larynx is determined by how timely their treatment is started, and also depends on the nature of growth and localization of the neoplasm. When a cancer tumor is detected in the first or second stages, a successful outcome can be expected, in the third - in more than half of the patients, the prognosis is also good, only the fourth stage laryngeal oncology therapy allows only slightly prolonging the patient's life.
At the first signs and symptoms of throat cancer (a photo can also be found on the network), you should immediately go to the doctor.
As for the preventive measures of oncology, they are simple methods, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, combating bad habits, good nutrition and timely treatment of inflammatory diseases. Do not wait until the disease goes away on its own, as this is the main mistake of all cancer patients who did not start timely treatment with the first symptoms of throat cancer.