Stage 4 throat cancer is curable in some cases although not always.
Stage 4 throat cancer means that is has spread to distant areas and it's harder to cure the throat cancer at stage 4.
Still though treatment is available and it's not always terminal when you have stage 4 throat cancer.
Stage 4 throat cancer will feel like a lump on the neck which can indicate a swollen lymph node and stage 4 throat cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and you will sometimes experience weight loss and have difficulty swallowing food and difficulty breathing if the throat cancer blocks the airway.
In addition to a lump, swelling or thickness in the neck, some other warning signs and symptoms of throat cancer include: Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) A feeling that food has become lodged in the throat. Hoarseness and other vocal changes.
Most dentists do check for throat cancer or mouth and orpharyngeal cancer and they are most often the first people to spot and notice any early signs of throat cancer, mouth and oropharyngeal cancer.
The odds of beating throat cancer are pretty good and more than half of people which is 52 percent of people are treated and diagnosed with throat cancer before it has spread outside the larynx.
In those cases the 5 year survival rate with throat cancer is 78 percent.
However if the throat cancer has spread to any surrounding tissues or organs and or the regional lymph nodes, the 5 year relative survival rate of throat cancer is 46 percent.
What happens in end stage throat cancer is your breathing will usually begin to slow and sometimes with very long pauses between your breaths.
With end stage throat cancer you will also have noisy breathing with congestion and rattling or gurgling sounds.
The gurgling or rattling sounds occur with end stage throat cancer because you're not able to clear fluids from your throat.
The person dying is not aware of these sounds although the people around them will be aware of the sounds.
Stage 2 throat cancer is usually curable through removing part of the larynx by using radiation or surgery with a partial laryngectomy.
Stage 3 throat cancer is terminal and around 60 out of 100 people who have stage 3 throat cancer will usually live on average of 5 years or sometimes more after they are diagnosed.
Stage 3 throat cancer means it has grown throughout your larynx although it has not spread to other parts of the body or at least one of the vocal cords is fixed and cannot move.
The stage of throat cancer that is curable is stage 0 throat cancer which is most often vocal cord cancers which are found early on because of changes in the voice.
The vocal cord cancers are most often always curable using radiation therapy or even endoscopic surgery.
The most common site of oropharyngeal cancer is the tongue as well as the tonsils and the oropharynx which is the part of the throat that is behind the mouth.
Oropharyngeal cancer is the same as throat cancer and is also called tonsil cancer.
The Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that refers to the cancer of the base and posterior one-third of the tongue, the tonsils, soft palate, and posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls.
This cancer is also known as Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Sometimes more than one cancer can occur in the oropharynx and in other parts of the oral cavity, nose, pharynx, larynx (voice box), trachea, or esophagus at the same time.
Most oropharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Oral and oropharyngeal cancers can often be cured, especially if the cancer is found at an early stage.
Although curing the cancer is the primary goal of treatment, preserving the function of the nearby nerves, organs, and tissues is also very important.
Around 60 out of 100 people (around 60%) survive the oropharyngeal cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.
Almost 30 out of 100 people (almost 30%) survive the oropharyngeal cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Some oropharyngeal cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
The most common sites where mouth and oropharyngeal cancer spread to include: the lymph nodes in the neck. the bones. the lungs.
If the oropharyngeal cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year relative survival rate for all people is 86%.
About 28% of oral and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed at this stage.
If the oropharyngeal cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 69%.
Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the oropharynx, which is the part of the throat just behind the mouth.
It includes cancer that starts in the back of the tongue and tonsil cancer.
The stage of your oropharyngeal cancer tells you how big it is and whether it has spread.
The leading risk factors for developing oropharyngeal cancer are smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol consumption, and HPV infection, especially a specific type known as HPV-16.
The fact that fewer U.S. residents now smoke has resulted in a decline in smoking-related oropharyngeal cancers.
Oral cancer can spread quickly, so early diagnosis and treatment can help improve a person's overall outcome and survival rate.
People older than 45 have an increased risk for oral cancer, although this type of cancer can develop in people of any age.
Poor oral hygiene. Lack of dental care and not following regular oral hygiene practices may cause an increased risk of oral cavity cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancer is a relatively rare kind of cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 53,000 people in the U.S. develop oropharyngeal cancer each year.
In comparison, the American Cancer Society estimates more than 290,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
While 60% of mortalities within the first 3 years of diagnosis of cancer were classified as oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers, 69% of mortalities after 3 years were related to second primaries, cardiovascular disease or second primary cancers.
Treatments for oropharyngeal cancer include surgery (minimally invasive robotic surgery and neck dissection), radiation and chemotherapy.
Radiation is sometimes needed after surgery.
When surgery is not used to treat these tumors, typically a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is recommended.