Throat Cancer Stages

Throat consists of a muscular tube that begins just behind the tongue and runs down the neck. Cancerous tumors in the throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils are all examples of throat cancer. X-rays, CT scans, PET scans, and/or MRIs help detect the abnormal growth of cells or development of a tumor in the throat. Endoscopy, biopsy, etc. help confirm the diagnosis of throat cancer. Staging of the cancer is based on the location of the cancer in the throat, size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes are attacked by cancerous cells, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Throat cancer stages tell us about the nature and extent of the cancer in the body.

Throat Cancer

Causes and Symptoms
Excessive smoking, or chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, human papillomavirus infection, chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), exposure to certain chemicals, excessive enlargement of the thyroid gland or goiter, exposure to harmful radiation, nutritional deficiency, genetic predisposition, etc. are important throat cancer causes.

Chronic sore throat that does not go away, persistent cough, pain or difficulty swallowing, undesired weight loss, ear pain, a lump in the back of the mouth, throat or neck, hoarseness, breathing difficulty, bleeding from the throat or blood-tinged sputum, are commonly noticed symptoms of the cancer.

Prognosis
The prognosis varies according to throat cancer stages. Prognosis for the cancer at stage 1 is more favorable than the prognosis for the cancer at stage 4. Age and general health also influence a person's prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are more effective when the cancer is detected in its early stages. With the help of surgery, the cancerous tissue is removed. There are more chances of recovery when the cancer is detected in the first or second stage.

Stages
When throat cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is known as metastatic throat cancer and if the cancer returns after initial treatment, it is known as recurrent throat cancer.

• Stage 1: The cancer tumor is less than one inch in size and has not attacked the lymph nodes.
• Stage 2: The tumor size is between one and two inches but it has not invaded the lymph nodes.
• Stage 3: The tumor is quite big (more than two inches) and cancer has invaded one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor. The size of the lymph node containing cancerous cells is smaller than three centimeters.
• Stage 4: The cancer is detected in multiple lymph nodes, or in any lymph node that is larger than six centimeters. The cancer has spread to nearby tissues such as tissues around the lips and mouth.

Stage 4 Prognosis
Unfortunately, more than 70% of patients have advanced stage throat cancer at the time of diagnosis. Removal of the pharynx or the larynx, or both, is necessary for survival. Neck dissection surgery is required to remove the cancerous cells that have spread beyond the primary site to the lymph nodes while radiation is required to kill the remaining cancer cells. After such surgeries, patients need to learn new breathing techniques and new ways to speak and how to use their vocal cords. Specially designed voice aids and surgical restructuring may even be required for speaking. Sometimes restructuring is necessary for creating a new way for food intake. In short, throat cancer patients undergoing surgeries need extensive rehabilitation.

Stage 4 Survival Rate
As mentioned above, throat cancer stage 4 prognosis is quite unfavorable. The survival rate for the cancer at stage 4 is only 30%. This means only 30% of people with advanced stage throat cancer will survive for 5 years. But survival rate for stage 1 is 90% while survival rate for carcinoma in situ is almost 98%.

It is possible to recover from throat cancer if the cancer is detected in the early stages. So, one should consult a doctor immediately if any signs of throat discomfort persist for more than fifteen days. Throat cancer in early stages is less severe and can be easily cured.