Neck and throat cancer have similar symptoms, but differ in origin. Neck cancer affects the oral cavity, salivary glands, sinuses, nasal cavity, larynx, and lymph nodes, while throat cancer affects the pharynx, vocal cords, and lower larynx. Both can be caused by tobacco and alcohol use, HPV infection, and poor oral hygiene. Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
There’s often a lot of overlap between neck and throat cancer, but the biggest differences are usually in origins: each tends to start in a slightly different place, and some symptoms are even more common for one than the other. Neck cancer, sometimes more generally referred to as head and neck cancer, is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, sinuses, and nasal cavity, as well as the larynx and lymph nodes. Throat cancer affects the pharynx, vocal cords, and sometimes the lower larynx. When either is caught very early, the growths can sometimes be shed immediately at the point of origin. In most cases, however, the condition isn’t discovered until it has spread to surrounding tissue, meaning that the areas of coverage may actually be identical. Getting an accurate diagnosis is usually a matter of looking closely at the symptoms and possible causes. However, treatment and prognosis are generally similar for both, so there isn’t always an urgent need for definitive identification.
Classification and overlapping
The tissues of the throat and neck are very similar in many ways. Cancers that start growing in one place often spread very quickly to other nearby areas, which is why neck and throat cancers look identical: In many advanced cases, their extent and symptoms are the same, and in some respects the conditions can be seen to have actually morphed into each other as things progress. The difference usually lies in discerning an origin and assigning a basic classification to the first formation of the disease.
There are six identifiable types of throat cancer: nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic. Nasopharynx cancer affects the upper part of the throat, behind the nose. Oropharynx cancer affects the central area behind the mouth. Hypopharyngeal cancer is cancer located in the lower part of the throat. Supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic tumors affect the upper, middle, and lower portions of the vocal folds, respectively.
Head and neck cancers, by contrast, usually start in the moist tissues lining the mouth, nose, and sinuses. They can also grow in the salivary glands, although this tends to be rare.
Symptoms
Both of these cancers share the symptoms of voice changes, swelling, and persistent ear pain. However, they differ when it comes to some of the smaller things. Neck cancers often have a lump in the neck that doesn’t go away or growths that form in the mouth; painful sinus pressure is also common. Sufferers also often find themselves coughing and vomiting blood, and may also notice changes in the skin.
Symptoms of throat cancer include persistent sore throat and difficulty swallowing. It’s important to keep in mind that none of these symptoms are definitively linked to cancer and can actually be caused by a number of much more benign diseases and conditions. Getting an accurate diagnosis from a healthcare professional is the only way to be sure whether something is serious or not.
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There can often be subtle differences when it comes to the cause as well. Neck and throat cancer is often caused by excessive use of tobacco and alcohol, as these substances are usually placed first in the mouth and then down the throat. Throat cancer can also be caused by a mutation developed by cells in the throat. Risk factors for both include sun exposure, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, radiation, inhaling industrial materials such as wood dust, and unhealthy oral hygiene. Plummer-Vinson syndrome and asbestos exposure have also been linked to both types of cancer, as has a diet devoid of fruits and vegetables.
Common treatments
The most common treatments for neck and throat cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Of these, chemotherapy tends to be the most common. It uses very strong chemicals to kill cancer cells at a rapid rate and is often combined with other drugs to work more effectively. Chemotherapy comes with both serious and mild side effects that may or may not be treatable.
Proton therapy and brachytherapy are forms of radiation therapy that are effective but not as potent or common as chemotherapy. Surgery to remove the growths is usually reserved for cases where the cancer is isolated enough for surgical removal to be practical, and when other, less invasive options don’t seem to work. A tracheostomy, for example, is a surgical procedure that creates a hole in a patient’s neck and windpipe, and is usually considered a sort of “last resort” treatment for people with cancerous growths that affect their ability to breathe. The procedure allows a person to breathe when the airways are blocked or otherwise damaged, but it permanently impairs the voice and the ability to eat and swallow easily.
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