Throat cancer: symptoms, causes, and treatments

Throat cancer may develop in any part of the throat. As there are many different structures in the throat that can be affected, throat cancer symptoms may manifest in a number of different ways. Like most types of cancer, if throat cancer is caught in its early stages, there is a much higher chance it won’t prove to be fatal. Four times more common in men than in women, throat cancer generally affects people over the age of 40. Throat cancer either develops in the larynx (laryngeal cancer) or the pharynx (pharyngeal cancer). Laryngeal cancer affects around 2,400 people in the UK each year.

Signs and symptoms of throat cancer

Common early signs of throat cancer include:

• Coughing
• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Constant sore throat
• Bleeding in the throat
• A lump in the neck
• Problems breathing in severe cases

There are generally three stages to throat cancer. The first is when a tumour forms, the second is when the cancer becomes present in lymph nodes, and the last is possible metastasis (when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body).

The main causes of throat cancer

Although the exact cause of throat cancer remains unknown, it occurs when cells in the throat become genetically mutated resulting in accelerated cell growth. These cells may then form into a tumour.

Throat cancer risk factors

Throat cancer risk factors include smoking or chewing tobacco, excessive consumption of alcohol, and exposure to certain carcinogenic chemicals such as asbestos. People who do not eat enough fruit or vegetables are also more at risk of developing throat cancer. Human papillomavirus and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease have also been known to increase the chances of throat cancer. Age can also be a factor. The older one gets, the higher the risk of throat cancer.

How is throat cancer treated?

There are a number of treatments for throat cancer available. A specialist can advise you on which treatment suits you best according to your needs. What they recommend will depend on where the cancer is located, how advanced it is, your general health, and any preference you might have (within reason).

Throat cancer treatments include:

• Radiation therapy – radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, may be sufficient to beat throat cancer if it is caught at the early stage. It employs the use of radiation in order to kill the cancerous cells.
• Chemotherapy – often used alongside radiation therapy, chemo employs the use of certain cytotoxic drugs in order to destroy the cancerous cells and halt their reproduction.
• Surgery – In advanced cases of throat cancer, surgery may be accompanied with other treatments such as radiation therapy in order to increase the chances of a successful recovery. There are various surgical options available to treat throat cancer, depending which part of the throat cancer has to be removed. In severe cases of laryngeal cancer when the voice box has to be removed, the patient will never be able to speak normally again. 
• Targeted drug therapy – uses specific drugs to target cells and cease reproduction of cancerous growth.