You can have throat cancer for years and not know it as sometimes the throat cancer may mimic other issues such as sore throat or strep throat.
But if you think you have throat cancer or have a sore throat or strep throat that does not go away or seems to come back often or gets worse then you should see a doctor.
Throat cancer is usually very small and they can be very difficult to see even by doctors.
Only around 20 percent to 30 percent of people with throat cancer will notice something visible to detect throat cancer.
During end stage throat cancer 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.