Tonsil cancer

Parts of the throat (pharynx) The throat (pharynx) is a muscular tube that runs from the back of your nose down into your neck. It contains three sections: the nasopharynx, oropharynx and laryngopharynx, which is also called the hypopharynx. Nasopharyngeal (nay-zoh-fuh-RIN-jee-ul) carcinoma is cancer that occurs in the nasopharynx, which is located behind your nose and above the back of your throat. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare in the United States. It occurs much more frequently in other parts of the world — specifically Southeast Asia. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult to detect early. That's probably because the nasopharynx isn't easy to examine and symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma mimic those of other, more-common conditions. Treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma usually involves radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of the two. You can work with your doctor to determine the exact approach depending on your particular situation. Symptoms In its early stages, nasopharyngeal carcinoma may not cause any symptoms. Possible noticeable symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma include: • A lump in your neck caused by a swollen lymph node • Blood in your saliva • Bloody discharge from your nose • Nasal congestion or ringing in your ears • Hearing loss • Frequent ear infections • Sore throat • Headaches When to see a doctor Early nasopharyngeal carcinoma symptoms may not always prompt you to see your doctor. However, if you notice any unusual and persistent ...

Most people probably think of their tonsils only in the context of having them removed as a kid or having them swell up from a cold or flu. But cancer of the tonsils is one of the more common cancers that occur in the mouth and throat—and it’s most often caused by a virus that may be prevented with a vaccine. The tonsils are masses of lymphoid tissue in the throat, behind the mouth and teeth. The lymphoid tissue in the tonsils is similar to the tissue inside of In the throat, the tonsils are the first part of the lymphatic system to be exposed to viruses and bacteria that enter the digestive and respiratory tracts. They form an important part of the immune system, preparing the body to fight off germy invaders. Tonsil cancer is considered an Causes and risk factors for tonsil cancer A virus called the Risk factors for tonsil cancer include: • Tobacco use • Alcohol consumption • HPV type 16 infection Having several of these risk factors—for example, smoking and drinking heavily—further increases the risk of developing tonsil cancer. HPV is a common infection, but some types of the virus are more dangerous than others. Not all types of HPV cause cancer. Some types of HPV are called “high-risk” because they put those infected at high risk of developing tumors. Infection with these high-risk strains (including type 16, which is associated with tonsil cancer) is preventable with the HPV vaccine. Getting the HPV vaccine, quitting smoking and reducing excessive drinking are all s...

Throat anatomy The throat includes the esophagus; windpipe, also known as the trachea; voice box, also known as the larynx; tonsils; and epiglottis. Throat cancer refers cancer that develops in your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx). Your throat is a muscular tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Throat cancer most often begins in the flat cells that line the inside of your throat. Your voice box sits just below your throat and also is susceptible to throat cancer. The voice box is made of cartilage and contains the vocal cords that vibrate to make sound when you talk. Types of throat cancer Throat cancer is a general term that applies to cancer that develops in the throat (pharyngeal cancer) or in the voice box (laryngeal cancer). Though most throat cancers involve the same types of cells, specific terms are used to differentiate the part of the throat where cancer originated. • 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. • Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer) begins in the hypopharynx (laryngopharynx) — the lower part of your throat, just above your esophagus and windpipe. • Glottic cancer begins in the 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 ...

Stages and grades of oropharyngeal cancer 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 grade means how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope. Some oropharyngeal cancers contain a virus called HPV. Doctors stage oropharyngeal cancer that contains HPV in a different way to oropharyngeal cancers that don't contain HPV. Doctors also stage oropharyngeal cancer differently to cancers that start in the mouth. • Staging systems Doctors use different systems to stage oropharyngeal cancer. Your doctor might use the TNM system. This system describes: • the size of the primary tumour (T) • whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (N) • whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body (M) Or the doctors might use a number staging system of 1 to 4. Staging and human papilloma virus (HPV) The doctor tests oropharyngeal cancer cells for a virus called human papilloma virus (HPV): • HPV positive cancers contain HPV • HPV negative cancers don’t contain HPV People with HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers tend to have a better outlook than people with HPV negative oropharyngeal cancers. The way doctors stage HPV positive oropharyngeal cancers is different to how they stage HPV negative oropharyngeal cancers. How do doctors find out your sta...