How To Check For Throat Cancer At Home

Risk factors – Certain factors may increase your risk of developing throat cancer:

smoking tobacco drinking alcohol moderately or heavilyhaving human papillomavirus (HPV) (increases risk of oropharynx cancer)being overweighthaving a family history of throat cancerbeing exposed to certain environmental factorsbeing over the age of 65

Smoking combined with moderate or heavy drinking is the greatest risk factor for developing throat cancer. Cancer needs to be diagnosed by a medical doctor and involves several types of diagnostic tests. You shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor with any concerning symptoms, as the earlier cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat.

a thorough medical history and physical exam, with special attention on the areas around your neck, head, and lymph nodes a referral to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), a physician who specializes in conditions affecting the neck and head laryngoscopy, which involves a thin, flexible tube that goes in your nose and down your throat to view your throat areaa biopsy, where tissue from a suspected tumor is extracted and then carefully examined in a lab for cancerous cells CAT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and PET scans to look inside the body to see if there are tumors in certain areas or to see if cancer has spread

There are five stages of throat cancer, starting with stage 0 and ending with stage 4. The stages refer to how much cancer is in your body and how far it has spread. Stage 0 is referred to as carcinoma in situ (CIS), and means that precancerous cells were found.

Stage 1 is the first stage of throat cancer, and it means that the cancer is localized to the particular area where it began, such as your upper, middle, or lower throat, or your voice box.
It has not yet spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
Cancer is easier to manage and treat when it is in the earlier stages and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of your body.

Again, this is why you should see your doctor if you have any persistent symptoms that you’re concerned about. The treatment plan for throat cancer will depend on the type of throat cancer you have, your overall health, and how far the cancer has spread.

surgery to remove the cancerous growth or tumors radiation therapy, which uses high intensity X-ray beams to kill cancer cells chemotherapy, which uses anticancer medications to kill cancer cells targeted therapy, which uses medication that targets proteins that cause cancer cells to divide and multiply

Throat cancers are cancers that affect different parts of your throat and voice box. They are most often caused by smoking, but other factors can contribute, including genetic factors and lifestyle choices. Symptoms of throat cancer can resemble other common diseases, and many people suspect that they have throat cancer when they don’t.

Contents

- 0.0.1 What does Stage 1 throat cancer look like?
- 0.0.2 Are there any visible signs of throat cancer?

1 When should I start worrying about throat cancer?
2 How rare is throat cancer?
- 2.1 Can a 30 year old get throat cancer?
- 2.2 Can someone in their 30s get throat cancer?
  - 2.2.1 Who is most at risk for throat cancer?
  - 2.2.2 Does throat cancer show up in blood tests?
3 What is pre cancer in the throat?
4 Can throat cancer be cured?

What does Stage 1 throat cancer look like?

A Lump in the Throat – A primary tumor of the throat can appear as a nodular mass on the floor of the mouth, tongue, tonsil, or wall of the throat. The mass will tend to be irregular, fixed, and relatively painless, but can interfere with swallowing and make you feel like you have something caught in your throat. This is most common in people with a long history of smoking.

Are there any visible signs of throat cancer?

One of the most noticeable symptoms of throat cancer, whether it’s in the pharynx or larynx, is neck swelling or a painless lump in the neck, which can indicate a swollen lymph node. Sores that don’t heal and red or white patches inside the mouth can be visible symptoms of throat cancer as well.

When should I start worrying about throat cancer?

Early warning signs of throat cancer – The most common early warning sign of throat cancer is a persistent sore throat. The American Cancer Society recommends that anyone with a sore throat that lasts for more than two weeks see a doctor immediately.

What age is throat cancer common?

Most people diagnosed with laryngeal cancer are 55 or older ; a very small number of people diagnosed are younger than 55. The average age of people diagnosed with laryngeal cancer is about 66. Black men are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than White men and are more likely to die from it.

Is early throat cancer painful?

Throat Cancer Symptoms | Lump in Throat & More Signs | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Ready to start planning your care? Call us at to make an appointment. The symptoms of throat cancer vary according to the location of the tumor. General signs of throat cancer may include the following:

Sore throat: Pain or discomfort in your throat that doesn’t go away is one of the most common symptoms of throat cancer. Voice changes: Cancer in your throat can affect your voice. Your voice might sound different. It may be quieter, husky, or sound as if you have a cold all the time. You might slur some of your words or have trouble pronouncing certain sounds. Trouble swallowing: Throat cancer can cause pain or a burning sensation when chewing and swallowing food. You might feel like food is sticking in your throat. A lump in your throat: You may have a lump in your throat caused by an enlarged lymph node. Swelling in one or more lymph nodes in the neck is a common symptom of throat cancer, as well as other, Lumps that come and go are not usually due to cancer. Cancer usually forms a lump that slowly gets bigger. Weight loss: Weight loss is a common symptom of many different types of cancer. Throat cancer can make it painful to eat and difficult to swallow, which can cause weight loss.

Can you live 10 years with throat cancer?

Survival for all stages – There are only statistics available for men. This is because so few women are diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. Generally for men with cancer of the larynx in England:

around 85 out of every 100 (around 85%) will survive their cancer for 1 year or morearound 65 out of every 100 (around 65%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or morearound 55 out of every 100 (around 55%) will survive their cancer for 10 years or more

These statistics are for people diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in England between 2009 and 2013. Net survival and the probability of cancer death from rare cancers P Muller and others Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2016 These statistics are for net survival.

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Is throat cancer caught early?

Sometimes though, laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers can be found early. They usually cause symptoms, such as voice changes, which are described in Signs and Symptoms of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

How long can you have throat cancer without knowing?

Signs that warrant an immediate trip to a doctor – Some common cancer signs that should result in a visit to the emergency room or to a doctor as soon as possible include:

coughing up mucus tinged with bloodblood in stools or urinelump in the breast, testicles, under the arm, or anywhere that it didn’t exist beforeunexplained but noticeable weight losssevere unexplained pain in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis

These and other signs and symptoms will be evaluated. Screenings, such as blood and urine tests and imaging tests, will be used if your doctor thinks it’s appropriate. These tests are done both to help make a diagnosis as well as rule out various causes of your signs and symptoms. When seeing a doctor, be prepared to share the following information:

your personal medical history, including all symptoms you have experienced, as well as when they beganfamily history of cancer or other chronic conditionslist of all medications and supplements you take

For some cancers that are screened for on a regular basis, survival rates tend to be high. That’s because they’re often diagnosed early on, before symptoms develop. The 5-year survival rate for people with localized breast or prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent.

Localized means it hasn’t spread outside the original tissue or organ.) And when diagnosed early, melanoma has about a 99 percent 5-year survival rate. But catching some cancers early is difficult. There are no regular screening guidelines for some cancers, and symptoms may not show up until the cancer is in its advanced stages.

To help protect yourself from these cancers:

Be sure to keep up with your regular blood work and annual physicals.Report any new symptoms to your doctor, even if they seem minor.Talk with your doctor about testing if you have a family history of a particular type of cancer.

If you’re wondering how long you can have cancer without knowing it, there’s no straight answer. Some cancers can be present for months or years before they’re detected. Some commonly undetected cancers are slow-growing conditions, which gives doctors a better chance at successful treatment.

Can throat cancer be cured?

Outlook (Prognosis) – Throat cancers may be cured when detected early. If the cancer has not spread ( metastasized ) to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes in the neck, about one half of patients can be cured. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and parts of the body outside the head and neck, the cancer is not curable.

Treatment is aimed at prolonging and improving quality of life.
It is possible but not fully proven that cancers which test positive for HPV may have better outlooks.
Also, people who smoked for less than 10 years may do better.
After treatment, therapy is needed to help with speech and swallowing.
If the person is not able to swallow, a feeding tube will be needed.

The recurrence risk in people with throat cancer is highest during the first 2 to 3 years of diagnosis. Regular follow-up after the diagnosis and treatment is very important to increase the chances of survival.

How rare is throat cancer?

02 How Common Is Throat Cancer? – Throat cancers are fairly rare when compared to all cancer diagnoses. In 2021, cancer of the larynx represented 0.7% of all new cancer cases and 0.6% of all cancer deaths. An estimated 12,470 new cases of laryngeal cancer will be diagnosed in 2022.3,820 people are projected to die from laryngeal cancer in 2022. Approximately 54,010 adults in America will be diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancer, with men facing rates twice as high as women. Considered rare, laryngeal cancer is the 22nd most common cancer in America. An estimated 3,000 people in the U.S.

Can a 30 year old get throat cancer?

Age – As with most cancers, laryngeal cancer is more common in older people than younger people. There are very few cases in people under 40 years of age.

Can someone in their 30s get throat cancer?

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I know HPV can cause cervical cancer, but recently I’ve heard it also can lead to throat cancer. How common is throat cancer caused by HPV? How effective is treatment for it? ANSWER: HPV can cause a form of cancer in the back of the throat.

Currently, the number of cases of this type of throat cancer is growing rapidly.
Because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms right away, the cancer typically isn’t detected until it has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
When it’s found at that point, it often can be cured.
And, fortunately, this cancer can be prevented with the HPV vaccine,

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Although most cases of HPV don’t cause symptoms or lead to problems, certain strains of HPV can cause cancer. Two strains of HPV cause 70% of all cervical cancer. HPV infections also can lead to other genital and anal cancers in females, as well as penile and anal cancer in males.

In addition, HPV can cause throat cancer. The increasing incidence of throat cancer related to HPV is turning it into one of the fastest growing types of cancer being diagnosed today. The reason for the increase is unclear, but both men and women are at risk. This cancer tends to appear most often in two age groups: first in people in their 30s and 40s, and then again in people in their 60s and 70s.

Early symptoms of HPV throat cancer are uncommon. Most people don’t get an evaluation until the disease has spread to lymph nodes, and they find a lump just below the jawline in the upper neck. Occasionally, people may have the sensation of something stuck in their throat or a lump in their throat that doesn’t go away, and that triggers an evaluation and leads to diagnosis.

As awareness of HPV-related throat cancer rises, it’s becoming more common for it to be detected during a dental visit. Many dentists now look and feel for tumors when they do their exams. Because these tumors tend to be under the surface of the skin, they can’t be seen easily. But if a dentist feels the back of the tongue and the floor of the mouth, the tumors usually can be detected because they have a distinctive acorn-like feel to them.

Throat cancer caused by HPV is highly treatable, even when it’s spread to nearby lymph nodes. Typically, the first step in treatment is removing the tumor and any affected lymph nodes. That often can be accomplished with a minimally invasive procedure called transoral robotic surgery that’s performed through the mouth.

If a patient has other factors that complicate the diagnosis, such as a tumor that has spread along nerves or outside the capsule of the lymph nodes, focused radiation therapy may be recommended.
In some cases, a less-toxic form of chemotherapy can be used to destroy cancer cells left behind after surgery.

Using a carefully targeted approach can help eliminate the cancer while minimizing the long-term side effects that can accompany treatment of head and neck cancers, such as difficulty with swallowing, eating and speaking; dry mouth; and neck stiffness and pain.

After treatment, the outlook for people with HPV-related throat cancer is excellent.
More than 95% of these tumors are cured with early detection and treatment.
It’s important to recognize, too, that this cancer can be prevented with the HPV vaccine.
The HPV vaccine has proven to be a safe and effective way to prevent HPV infection.

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That, in turn, protects against cancers caused by HPV, including HPV-related throat cancer. The vaccine has been shown to be most effective when it’s given to children between the ages of 9 and 14, but adults also can get the vaccine for some protection from HPV infection.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why your preteen needs the HPV vaccine published 8/19/19 Living With Cancer: HPV and cancer in men published 7/19/19 Why you need to get the HPV vaccine now: Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute published 7/2/19 Rise of HPV-related throat and mouth cancer: Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute published 3/27/19 Living With Cancer: How does HPV cause cervical cancer? published 2/22/19 Mayo Clinic Minute: Why you need to get the HPV vaccine now published 2/7/19 Living With Cancer: Throat cancer — risk factors and prevention published 8/31/18 Mayo Clinic Minute: The rise of HPV-related throat cancer published 7/18/18 Living With Cancer: Understanding throat cancer published 12/22/17 Halving radiation therapy for HPV-related throat cancer offers fewer side effects and similar outcomes, Mayo study finds published 9/25/17 Mayo Clinic Q and A: Throat cancer symptoms published 6/20/17

Who is most at risk for throat cancer?

The throat is important in eating, breathing and speaking. To accomplish these different tasks, the throat is divided into two main parts. The pharynx is the avenue through which food travels to the stomach and air is sent to the lungs. The larynx (sometimes called a voice box) allows us to speak and also protects the airway from food when we eat.

Throat cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, can be found in the pharynx or larynx.
It most often affects squamous cells, or thin, flat cells that line the surface of these organs.
The majority of people diagnosed with throat cancer are tobacco users and/or alcohol consumers.
In recent years, an increasing number of cases of throat cancer are being diagnosed in people with certain viral infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes “mono.” Pharyngeal cancer is more common than laryngeal cancer.

Combined, these diagnoses are given to some 31,000 people in the United States each year. Throat cancer affects more men than women, most likely due to the fact that more men use alcohol and/or tobacco. While people over the age of 55 are at highest risk for developing throat cancer, it’s growing more common in younger people due to the increased prevalence of HPV.

The most common treatments for throat cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Targeted therapy may be used to treat advanced forms of throat cancer. “There are a wide variety of ways to treat throat cancer, depending on the location and stage,” says Yale Medicine’s Heather Osborn, MD, a cancer surgeon who specializes in head and neck cancer.

“Working with a multidisciplinary team of experts, like the ones at Yale Medicine, ensures that all treatment options are considered to make sure that you have the best possible treatment plan for you.” In general, cancer occurs in the body at the cellular level, caused by a disruption in cellular activity when normal cell reproduce uncontrollably or don’t die as they should.

Throat cancer mostly originates in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that line the pharynx and larynx. Throat cancer can affect either the pharynx or larynx and there are a variety of different types, based on where the cancer is found. Squamous cell cancer of the throat can spread to other areas of the body including the lungs, bone and liver.

The pharynx is a 5-inch hollow tube that starts behind your nose and mouth, and ends at the top of the trachea (also known as the “wind pipe”). Cancer in any part of the pharynx is known as pharyngeal cancer. There are three parts to the pharynx that can further classify the type of pharyngeal cancer a person has.

Going from top to bottom, these are the nasopharynx (part of the pharynx behind your nose, where nasopharyngeal cancers occur), the oropharynx (part of the pharynx behind your mouth, where oropharyngeal cancers can be found), and the hypopharynx (the bottom part of the pharynx, where people can have hypopharyngeal cancers).

The larynx contains your vocal cords, which are used to speak, and also helps to support the processes of breathing and swallowing. Cancer in any part of the larynx is known as laryngeal cancer. Like the pharynx, the larynx has three parts. From upper to lower, these are the supraglottis (where supraglottic carcinoma can occur), glottis (where glottic carcinoma can occur), and subglottis (where subglottic carcinoma occurs).

Does throat cancer show up in blood tests?

Blood tests – No blood test can diagnose cancer in the oral cavity or oropharynx. Still, your doctor may order routine blood tests to get an idea of your overall health, especially before treatment. Such tests can help diagnose poor nutrition and low blood cell counts.

What is pre cancer in the throat?

A precancerous oropharyngeal growth, also called dysplasia, is a lesion that contains abnormal cells. It is confined to the lining, or mucosa, of the oropharynx. NYU Langone doctors may monitor a precancerous oropharyngeal growth for further changes, or they may recommend having it surgically removed.

If a precancerous growth is found, doctors perform a biopsy to obtain a tissue sample. The sample is then examined under a microscope. Pathologists determine whether a person has mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia based on how unusual the cells appear and how deeply they have grown into the mucosa. People with severe dysplasia are at high risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer, while those with mild dysplasia are at low risk.

Knowing whether someone has mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia can help a doctor determine how to manage a growth. If you are diagnosed with precancerous lesions, NYU Langone doctors advise you to take preventive measures, such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and taking steps to avoid a human papillomavious (HPV) infection.

What is the main cause of throat cancer?

What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Throat Cancer? Throat cancer (including cancers of the and ) can affect anyone. Major risk factors include infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as tobacco and alcohol use. Learn more about the risk factors for throat cancer.

HPV 16 and HPV 18: While HPV is most commonly associated with, HPV-positive is the fastest-growing head and neck cancer in the United States. Your risk of developing HPV-positive throat cancer depends in part on the strain of HPV to which you were exposed. For instance, some strains cause warts on the skin, mouth, or genitals but rarely, if ever, cause cancer. Other strains are higher risk and have a greater association with cancer formation. The strains most commonly linked to head and neck cancer are HPV 16 and, less commonly, HPV 18. Thankfully, for most people, including those with high-risk HPV, the body will get rid of the infection on its own. Unfortunately there is no way to predict who among those with HPV 16 and HPV 18 will go on to develop cancer. Tobacco: Tobacco use includes both smoking and smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco). People who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also at a greater risk for throat cancer. If you smoke or chew tobacco, you can reduce your risk of throat cancer — and the risk to those around you — by stopping now. If you’ve been diagnosed with throat cancer or are in treatment, it’s not too late to quit. Alcohol: Alcohol consumption is another major risk factor for throat cancer. Betel quid and gutka: People who chew betel quid or gutka, which is more common in parts of Asia, have an increased risk of throat cancer.

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How long can you have throat cancer without knowing?

Signs that warrant an immediate trip to a doctor – Some common cancer signs that should result in a visit to the emergency room or to a doctor as soon as possible include:

Localized means it hasn’t spread outside the original tissue or organ.) And when diagnosed early, melanoma has about a 99 percent 5-year survival rate.
But catching some cancers early is difficult.
There are no regular screening guidelines for some cancers, and symptoms may not show up until the cancer is in its advanced stages.

To help protect yourself from these cancers:

Where does throat cancer usually start?

Throat cancer, a type of head and neck cancer, can be found in the pharynx or larynx.
It most often affects squamous cells, or thin, flat cells that line the surface of these organs.
The majority of people diagnosed with throat cancer are tobacco users and/or alcohol consumers.
In recent years, an increasing number of cases of throat cancer are being diagnosed in people with certain viral infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes “mono.” Pharyngeal cancer is more common than laryngeal cancer.

The most common treatments for throat cancers include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Targeted therapy may be used to treat advanced forms of throat cancer. “There are a wide variety of ways to treat throat cancer, depending on the location and stage,” says Yale Medicine’s Heather Osborn, MD, a cancer surgeon who specializes in head and neck cancer.

Throat cancer mostly originates in squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that line the pharynx and larynx.
Throat cancer can affect either the pharynx or larynx and there are a variety of different types, based on where the cancer is found.
Squamous cell cancer of the throat can spread to other areas of the body including the lungs, bone and liver.

What does developing throat cancer feel like?

What are the most common symptoms of throat cancer? – The most common symptoms are persistent hoarseness, a sore throat lasting longer than four to six weeks, and trouble swallowing. A sore throat associated with ear pain is another worrisome symptom.

Can throat cancer be cured?

Treatment is aimed at prolonging and improving quality of life. It is possible but not fully proven that cancers which test positive for HPV may have better outlooks. Also, people who smoked for less than 10 years may do better. After treatment, therapy is needed to help with speech and swallowing. If the person is not able to swallow, a feeding tube will be needed.

Skye Skinner