Carcinoma Tonsil

What is Carcinoma Tonsil?

Carcinoma tonsil is a cancer arising in the squamous cells of the tonsil. The tonsil (soft tissue masses located at the rear of the throat) is the most common host of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (the middle part of the throat behind the mouth). Carcinoma tonsil is mostly known as tonsil cancer.

This type of cancer is one of the major head and neck cancer and develops in some parts of the throat just behind the mouth.

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease are:

  • The presence of blood in the saliva.
  • Prolonged soreness in the mouth and throat.
  • Severe pain in the ear, neck, mouth, and throat.
  • Poor breath.
  • Trouble swallowing, chewing, or speaking.
  • Inability to tolerate citrus fruits.
  • Enlarged tonsils.

 

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Causes

Consumption of tobacco, smoking and intake of high amount of alcohol are the leading causes of Carcinoma tonsil. The disease has also been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Other causes of the disease include:

  • Poor oral hygiene.
  • Genetic susceptibility leading to throat cancer.
  • Having an impaired immune system after an organ transplant.
  • Radiation therapy and exposure to certain harmful agents.
  • An unbalanced diet.

 

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Risks

The major risk factors for this disease are:

  • Heavy and regular consumption of alcohol and tobacco. When a person consumes both and on a regular basis, the consequences could be even worse.
  • The risk of oropharynx cancers also increases with time.

 

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Prevention

There are no prevention measures that are medically or scientifically designed by any experts to exercise, but there are some safety measures that everybody should follow in order to avoid this disorder:

  • Making healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Avoiding heavy consumption of alcohol and tobacco.

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How is it diagnosed?

At Medanta, our doctor might call for a few tests including: 

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How is it treated?

At Medanta, a team of experienced doctors will work together to develop an individualistic treatment plan for the patient. The treatment may include radiation therapy in conjunction with chemotherapy, and surgery followed by radiation therapy and ..

  • Surgery

    The surgery is done to remove the cancerous cells from the tonsil, throat, or lymph nodes. Different surgical techniques are used depending on the size and location of the tumour. After the surgery, microsurgical reconstruction may be used to restore the functions and appearance of the throat.

  • Radiation therapy

    This type of therapy uses high-powered beams of energy to target and kill the cancerous cells.

  • Chemotherapy

    This type of therapy uses various drugs to kill cancer. For tonsil cancer which has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy is always recommended to slow down the growth of cancerous cells.

When do I contact the doctor?

If you notice an enlarged tonsil, blood in your saliva, or a prolonged soreness in the throat or the area around it, and also feel trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking with a severe pain in throat, do not wait for your symptoms to get severe, and immediately consult a doctor. 

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How does Medanta provide care?

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Consult with experienced doctors

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