Cancer is a condition where cells that are not normal tend to grow on or within an organ or part of the body. These cells together, form into a tumor. Tumors may be benign, that is they do not spread very much and are unlikely to be extremely harmful to the individual. These benign tumors have an effect only on the organ or in the area that they are present. Malignant tumors, however, are dangerous to a person as they behave in three distinct ways. Malignant tumors attack the healthy cells of the area where they are present. This causes the cells of that area to die and results in the partial or complete failure of the organ that is affected by the cancer. Another feature of cancer cells is the uncontrolled growth that takes place as the tumor becomes larger and larger. Finally, cancer cells tend to spread across the body to other locations and begin to infect other organs as well. This is the metastasis stage of cancer which is considered to be extremely bleak as survival from a metastasized cancer is unlikely even with the best treatment available.
Throat cancer usually refers to cancer in the esophagus. There are other cancers that affect the head and neck, but throat cancer is different as it affects the esophagus and causes problems with swallowing. Other symptoms include pain, irritation in the throat, uncontrolled reflux of food and soreness of the throat. A person's tone of voice may also change if the vocal chords are being stretched or compressed due to the presence of a tumor in the throat. Throat cancer is quite a serious form of cancer and it is quite difficult to cure such a cancer. Like all other cancers, early detection may lead to the discovery of a small tumor which can be operated upon and removed, but larger tumors are not operable and one can only stall the growth of the tumor using chemotherapy and radiation. In some rare cases, a large tumor may be arrested in time and then can be operated upon, but this is not very common and one should not expect to be cured of a cancer that has created a large tumor.
Diagnosis is done through visual methods using a scope that is inserted into the mouth. A cancer with a developed tumor will be visible easily using this technique. A sample of the tumor cells will be taken in order to test and confirm the cancer diagnosis.
Submitted by M T on May 10, 2010 at 04:06