All what you need to know about Throat Cancer, Causes, symptoms and prevention

Throat cancers grow in the organs that help you swallow, speak, and breathe.

About half of these cancers happen in the throat itself, the tube that starts behind your nose and ends in your neck. It’s also called the “pharynx.

Cancer diseases tend to grow quickly. That’s why getting treated early on gives you the best chance to beat them and keep a good quality of life.

In this article, we will be looking at the symptoms, causes and prevention of cancer

                  SYMPTOMS OF THROAT CANCER

Symptoms of throat cancer may include

• Cough
• Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not speaking clearly
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain
• A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
• A sore throat
• Weight loss

           CAUSES OF THROAT CANCER

• Excessive Alcohol use- You are driven more risk of throat cancer if you drink excessively, more than two drinks of alcohol in a day.
• Smoking of Tobacco- Smoking it and chewing it are the biggest risk factors for all head and neck cancers, including throat cancer.
• Diet food- A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables may also cause throat cancer
• HPV-Human papillomavirus is linked to cancers in the back of the throat, including tongue and tonsil cancers.
• Chemical exposure- Chemical exposure. This includes being around asbestos, nickel, and sulfuric acid fumes.

        People who are most likely to have throat cancer 

• Gender. Men are five times more likely to get it than women.
• Age. Most people get diagnosed after 65.
• Race. African-American men are at the biggest risk.

            TYPES OF THROAT CANCER

Most types grow in the flat, thin cells that line the throat and voice box.

Nasopharyngeal cancer begins in the nasopharynx — the part of your throat just behind your nose.

Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the oropharynx — the part of your throat right behind your mouth that includes your tonsils, the back of the tongue, or the soft palate.

Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer) begins in the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx) — the lower part of your throat, just above your oesophagus and windpipe.

Glottic cancer – begins in the vocal cords. This holds your vocal cords.

Supraglottic cancer-  begins in the upper portion of the voice box and includes cancer that affects the epiglottis, which is a piece of cartilage that blocks food from going into your windpipe

Subglottis. This is the area below your vocal cords and above your windpipe.

               PREVENTION OF THROAT CANCER

There’s no proven way to prevent throat cancer from occurring. But in order to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can:

• Stop smoking or don’t start smoking –  If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Stopping smoking can be very difficult, so get some help.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation-  if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
• Healthy fruits and Vegetables – To reduce your risk of throat cancer, Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of throat cancer. Eat a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables.