The terror of throat cancer

Uncle Sam would be shocked when he finds out that 3% of the American population who has cancer has stage 4 throat cancers. Based on national statistics, the bulk of the cases are usually men and they have twice the likelihood of dying from it than women. Worst still, people who are diagnosed are already on the advanced stages. The even sadder thing about his disease is that it can be prevented just by doing one important thing – stop smoking.

Throat cancer or oropharnygeal carcinoma is basically the rapid growth of cells in the throat. It is classified into 4 stages in which stage 4 throat cancer is known to be a severe case in which it has already spreads to the mouth and even other organs. Aside from smoking, alcohol consumption also contributes in causing the disease, although, race and genetics also play a role in this. Other causes are poor nutrition, exposure to human papillomavirus, occupational hazards and even common conditions like gastric reflux can increase your risk in getting the disease.

The stage 4 throat cancer survival rate is considered to be good by many medical studies. During the early stages, the patient has a 90% chance of surviving the disease and about a third of it for those in the advanced stages. But the survival rate may change because there are also factors to be considered such as the general health of the patient, the assertiveness of the medical team in giving their treatment and most of all how ell the patient is coping with the disease.

While a stage 4 throat cancer prognosis greatly clings on how well the cancer is staged. Staging is very important because it will serve as a guide to treatment and also show how far the cancer has gone. Diagnostics procedures like needle biopsies, pathology reports and advanced imaging modalities like the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are valuable tools in determining the stage of the cancer. Unfortunately, there were cases wherein the tumor came back despite the aggressive therapies and lowers the survival rate to less than five years. This time line is also the gauge in determining total remission.

The old adage said that prevention is better than cure and this disease is very much preventable. Simple lifestyle changes like ceasing tobacco use and limiting the consumption of alcohol can greatly lower the risk in developing the disease. Other important measures are good exercise regimen and maintaining a good diet plan. But most importantly is having regular visits with your doctors even if you don’t have any bad symptoms because early detection vastly increases the recovery rate.

Having such an advanced form of cancer is very scary to anyone but with proper staging and treatment, an aggressive support system and the will to never give up, you can beat the crap of throat cancer into a bloody pulp.

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