Tonsil cancer is a malignant disease. It is characterized by the formation of a tumor. This ailment is considered to be a rare type of oncology. Moreover, tonsils are most often affected in men. Cancer is diagnosed, according to statistics, in men of advanced age (from 60 years old), and this type of oncology is found in such a group almost 10 times more often than in women.
Brief description of pathology
Tonsil cancer develops in the oropharynx. Education increases in size and over time develops into a malignant tumor without borders. Tonsils in their biology are considered lymphoid tissues. In humans, six types of tonsils are distinguished:
- two palatine (located above the sky in the oral cavity);
- two trumpets;
- pharyngeal;
- lingual.
Of course, oncology can affect any of these species. However, palatine tonsil cancer is most often diagnosed .
Initially, the disease manifests itself as an increase in lymph nodes, compaction, tumor, ulcer. Then metastases begin to develop. This pathology is a rapidly progressing disease. Doctors identify the disease by examining the oral cavity and lymph nodes.
Causes of occurrence
According to medicine, one of the main and most common reasons why tonsil cancer occurs is the abuse of smoking and alcohol.
A human papillomavirus can also be an equally important factor in the onset of the disease. Today it is very common. As a result of unprotected oral sex, the virus can easily enter the oropharynx.
It is also worth noting that the causes of the disease can be:
- contact with harmful substances in the industry;
- Epstein-Barr virus;
- chemotherapy in the past;
- abuse of immunosuppressants.
Pathology classification
Doctors distinguish 3 forms of such an ailment as tonsil cancer:
- ulcerative - the tissues of the tonsils themselves are destroyed;
- infiltrative - a significant increase in the size of the tonsils, swelling;
- papillomatous - growths on the tonsil (papilloma, polyps).
Symptoms of the disease
The appearance of a disease in the body is almost always asymptomatic. Therefore, it is very difficult to identify tonsil cancer (the photo allows you to visually familiarize yourself with the disease) in the initial stages.
Throughout the time when the tumor grows and grows in size, the patient begins to manifest some signs that characterize the disease.
Symptoms may include:
- chronic sore throat;
- discomfort gives in ears;
- lymph nodes increase in size;
- rapidly losing weight, for no reason;
- voice may change;
- discharge from the nose is observed (they can even be purulent);
- breathing becomes difficult;
- in the future, otitis media may appear, hearing often worsens.
If you do not consult a doctor in the early stages, then subsequently there may be such serious violations as:
- Jacquot's syndrome - visual impairment, paralysis of the eye muscles, blindness;
- Berne syndrome - the occurrence of paresis, nerve palsy when swallowing;
- Colle - Sikar syndrome - numbness of the throat, root of the tongue.
That is why it is very important, even with the slightest changes in your body, not to hesitate, but immediately turn to competent specialists for help. This will protect you from the development of a wide variety of pathologies, including from such a serious ailment as tonsil cancer.
Symptoms characteristic of oncology, which must be paid attention to:
- Tumors form in the region of the vocal cords. This leads to a disorder of voice function, hoarseness. Over time, the voice may completely disappear.
- Foreign body sensation in the throat. There is a defeat of the upper sections of the larynx. Pain occurs when swallowing saliva or food.
- If the cancer is concentrated in the lower region of the larynx, then the uniformity of breathing is disrupted. The patient has shortness of breath.
The presence of such symptoms is an alarming sign, so contacting a doctor is inevitable.
Stages of the disease
As you know, oncology is characterized by 4 degrees of development. Tonsil cancer is no exception.
Stages of the disease:
- Small knots. They reach a size of up to 2 centimeters. There are no particular symptoms. Metastases are completely absent: they are neither in the lymph nodes, nor in the human body.
- There is a significant increase in lymph nodes in the cervical spine. For this degree, the presence of metastases is already characteristic. The tumor is more than 2 cm - it extends beyond the mucous membrane. But education does not extend further than tonsils. Metastases go to the lymph nodes. The first symptoms appear - these are sore throats when swallowing.
- The tumor reaches a large size. It resembles a capsule. The formation extends beyond the tonsils, passes into the walls of the pharynx. Symptoms such as chronic sore throat, swelling of the neck, persistent bad breath, saliva with blood, and lymph metastases appear.
- The tumor grows into the organs and tissues of a person. The larynx and nasopharynx are damaged. Metastases spread throughout the body: to the brain, spine, lymph nodes. Visible symptoms in a patient include swelling of the neck and face, constant headaches, cramps, anemia.
Diagnostic Methods
How is tonsil cancer determined? Endoscopic examination is used to diagnose the disease. This is a medical examination, which is a pharyngoscopy. Using special technology, this diagnostic method allows you to enlarge the image of a malignant tumor. During such a study, a biopsy is done.
Using topographic methods, you can determine the prevalence of cancer in the body:
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- CTG;
- scan of the lymphatic system;
- laboratory research;
- tumor markers.
A laboratory blood test is also performed. After all, it is the main informative signal in the human body.
Blood will show the following parameters during tonsil oncology:
- low hemoglobin;
- the number of red blood cells is much less than normal;
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate rolls over.
If the tests indicate the development of oncology, then it is necessary to immediately undergo a course of treatment under the supervision of an oncologist.
Ways to combat the disease
The necessary method of treatment is prescribed by the doctor after it is completely determined at what stage the disease is. As a rule, surgery is carried out in any case if throat cancer is diagnosed . Then, if necessary, the doctor prescribes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or radiotherapy.
If the patient is diagnosed with tonsil cancer, treatment most often consists of the following measures:
- Surgical intervention. It is carried out by an external or transoral method. In the presence of metastases, it is sometimes necessary to remove the lower jaw. In some situations, lymph nodes with fiber are excised.
- Radiation therapy. Before resorting to such therapy, it is necessary to carry out mouth sanitation. Then treatment or removal of nodes is prescribed. These measures help to avoid unpleasant complications.
- Chemotherapy. This procedure is most often combined with radiation therapy. For tonsil cancer, doctors recommend chemotherapy with Cisplatin.
As you know, radiation and chemotherapy have a devastating effect on cancer. Although such treatment damages healthy cells of the body. This can provoke: general weakness, nausea, immunodeficiency. After such treatment, the patient must take a whole course to restore the body.
The most unpleasant feature of this ailment is its asymptomatic course in the initial stages. Nothing worries a person at all, and yet the destructive process is already taking place in the body. That is why doctors are not tired of repeating that their health should be treated as carefully as possible. If you are concerned about the throat, discomfort, discomfort and weakness in the body, immediately consult a doctor for help to avoid the consequences.
Disease prognosis
Unfortunately, this is a very serious and unpleasant disease - tonsil cancer. The prognosis for this pathology is unfavorable. Indeed, as previously mentioned, the ailment is most often diagnosed in the later stages, since in the initial stages it does not betray itself.
But still, in some cases, it is possible to determine the development of the disease at the very beginning. As a rule, this happens during the examination of the patient for completely different reasons.
There is a scale of indicators of life for five years, with the detection of the disease:
- 1st stage - 100%;
- 2nd stage - 83%;
- 3rd stage - up to 58%;
- 4th stage - 29%.
Preventive actions
Is it possible to reduce the chances of getting cancer? Doctors say that in most cases a person pushes himself to the development of oncology. No wonder cancer is called a “man-made” ailment. It is known that serious prerequisites for the development of oncology are: carcinogens that enter the body along with food, alcohol, smoking, ignoring dental treatment, and non-compliance with oral hygiene. And this is not a complete list of negative factors that may underlie severe cancer.
So, the main methods of prevention are:
- refusal of bad habits (alcohol, tobacco smoking);
- personal hygiene;
- periodic examination by a dentist and otolaryngologist;
- avoidance of carcinogens, ionizing radiation;
- protecting yourself from the risk of HPV infection.
Conclusion
But no matter how terrible the diagnosis may seem, it is quite possible to fight it. The main thing is to pay attention to those signals with which the body indicates its problems. In case of unpleasant symptoms or discomfort, be sure to consult a doctor. After all, any disease should be started to be treated at an early stage. And then the forecast will be the most favorable.