The exact cause of pharyngeal cancer is not known. Some factors that can increase your risk of throat cancer include:
Prolife Cancer Centre – Throat Cancer Treatment in Pune
What is Throat cancer?
The oropharynx is often just called the throat (pharynx). The oropharynx is the space in the back of the mouth, sometimes called the back of the throat. The base of the tongue, parts of the tonsil, the back of the soft palate, and the uvula are all located in the oropharynx. Oropharynx cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils. Your throat is a muscular tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Dr. Sumit Shah is one of the best Oncologist in Pune, provides the Throat Cancer Treatment in Pune.
Throat Cancer Risk Factors
- Tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco
- Excessive alcohol
- A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
- A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus increases the risk of developing pharyngeal cancer.
- Cooking salt-cured fish and meat releases a chemical called nitrosamine which might increase the risk of developing the disease.
What are the symptoms of Throat Cancer?
One of the first symptoms of throat cancer is a painless lump in the upper neck.
Signs of Throat (Pharynx) cancer may include:
- Cough
- Change in voice, hoarseness or not speaking clearly
- Swelling of the neck
- Ear pain, Facial pain
- Nosebleeds
- Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears), Changes in hearing
- Nasal congestion (a blocked nose)
- Persistent headache
- A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
- A sore throat
- Weight loss
These symptoms are also common in non-cancerous conditions. Most people with these symptoms do not have cancer of the pharynx. If you see any symptoms of throat cancer then meet Dr. Sumit Shah, provides the best Throat Cancer Treatment in Pune.
Dr. Sumit Shah – Cancer Surgeon in Pune
Dr. Sumit Shah, a renowned Chief Consultant, Surgical Oncologist, and Robotic Surgeon, is the founder of Prolife Cancer Centre & Research Institute. This state-of-the-art medical facility provides a comprehensive range of integrated cancer treatment options under one roof. Dr. Shah has pursued a super-specialty course in surgical oncology at the Cancer Centre Welfare Home and Res. Institute in Kolkata, where he was recognized as the Best Outgoing Cancer Surgeon. He is among the few mouth cancer specialists in Pune who possess this recognized degree, demonstrating his exceptional expertise in the field of surgical oncology.
The specialist will inspect your mouth, throat, ears. He will use a tiny lighted mirror to check your pharynx. The doctor will pass a tiny bendable tube with a light at the end (flexible endoscope) into the nostril to look at the back of the nose. A local anesthetic spray might be used to numb your nose and throat. You will be instructed not to eat or drink anything for an hour afterwards, or until your throat is no longer numb.
If a tumor is assumed, the doctor will take a biopsy and a pathologist will examine the tissue under a microscope.
The doctor may also order other tests:
- Blood tests
- X-ray
- CT scan
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- PET scan
There are 5 stages of Throat cancer. It is divided from range 0 to 4:
Stage 0
The tumor is only on the top layer of cells of the affected part of the throat.
Stage I:
The tumor is less than 2 cm and limited to the part of the throat where it started.
Stage II:
The tumor is between 2 and 4 cm or may have grown into a nearby area.
Stage III:
The tumor is larger than 4 cm or has grown into other structures in the throat or has spread to one lymph node.
Stage IV:
The tumor has spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs.
Your throat cancer treatment at Prolife may include one or more of the following therapies:
- Surgery
In most cases, surgery is only needed if the tumor reappears after chemoradiation treatment.
If the tumor is minute, the surgeon can perform transoral laser microsurgery. The patient is given anesthesia before the operation begins. The laser is injected into the mouth and the beam from the laser is used to excise the tumor. Dr. Sumit Shah provides the best Laparoscopic Surgery in Pune.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is prescribed for different reasons. Together with radiotherapy as an alternative to surgery (called chemoradiation). After surgery to decrease the risk of the cancer returning or to slow the growth of a tumor and control symptoms when the cancer cannot be cured (palliative treatment).
- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy, including intensity modulated radiation therapy, stops cancer cells from dividing and slows the growth of the tumor. Radiotherapy also destroys cancer cells and can shrink or eliminate tumors. Radiation therapy involves 5-6 weeks of daily treatments.
Healing from Surgery
Most people who have throat cancer surgery heal without any problems. These people go home within a week. A fewer number of patients may have a slower recovery and need to wait for a little more.
A surgeon will give you guidance on how to take care of yourself, including your surgery, bathing, driving, and sexual activity. There will be information about yourself:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Pain medicine
After Treatment, you will be given a Daily Goals Checklist. Use that checklist to understand how you are doing every day.
While you are in the hospital, you will have regular aims to help you recover. These aims include:
- Controlling your neck movement.
- Eating and drinking
- Controlling your pain
After you’ve completed your treatments for Pharynx cancer, follow-up care is very essential. Routine checkups can help find any changes in your health, and if cancer comes back (or “recurs”), it can be treated as soon as possible.
If your treatment has finished, follow-up appointments maybe every 3−6 months for the first couple of years and 6−12 months for the following 3 years.
Cancers of the lip and oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and salivary glands are the 16th, 21st, 24th, 25th and 28th most common cancers worldwide, respectively. The top 25 countries with the highest rates of these cancers in 2018 are given in the tables below.
Combined, these cancers make up mouth, pharynx and larynx (MPL) cancers, and there were over 750,000 new cases of these in 2018.
This year, an estimated 53,000 adults (38,140 men and 14,860 women) diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Rates of these cancers are more than twice as high in men as in women. … It is estimated that 10,860 deaths (7,970 men and 2,890 women) from these 2 diseases will occur this year.
At Prolife Cancer Center, your throat cancer treatment is personalized to give the best results, while concentrating on your quality of life. We offer minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries that provide successful treatment with less impact on you.
Prolife offers unique options. Our globally renowned team of physicians shows your treatment for the most benefit while reducing the impact on your body.
Dr. Sumit Shah is expertise in treating pharynx cancer. We offer the best Laparoscopic surgery treatment for pharynx cancer also chemotherapy and radiation therapy options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Early symptoms of pharynx cancer often include a persistent sore throat, a painless lump in the upper neck, difficulty swallowing, or a change in voice (hoarseness). Other signs may include ear pain, unexplained weight loss, or a cough that doesn’t go away. If you experience these symptoms for more than two weeks, consult a specialist like Dr. Sumit Shah in Pune for a thorough evaluation.
Dr. Sumit Shah at Prolife Cancer Centre is recognized as one of the leading surgical oncologists for pharynx and throat cancer treatment in Pune. With extensive expertise in laparoscopic and robotic cancer surgeries, Dr. Shah provides personalized care plans that include advanced surgical techniques, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
While the exact cause is unknown, major risk factors include tobacco use (smoking or chewing), excessive alcohol consumption, and infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or Epstein-Barr virus. A diet low in fruits and vegetables and chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may also increase risk.
Treatment at Prolife Cancer Centre is multimodal and depends on the stage of the cancer. Options include:
- Surgery: Minimally invasive or robotic surgery to remove tumors.
- Radiation Therapy: High-energy beams to destroy cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: Medication to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors before surgery.
- Targeted Therapy: Focusing on specific characteristics of cancer cells.
Yes, pharynx cancer has a high success rate when diagnosed in its early stages (Stage I or II). Early detection allows for less aggressive treatments, such as transoral laser microsurgery, which preserves voice and swallowing functions while effectively removing the tumor.