Tonsil cancer forms when healthy cells in the tonsils develop changes in their DNA. DNA contains instructions for making cells, and these changes can cause out-of-control cell growth. The accumulating cells form a tumor. If not treated, this cancer can spread to other parts of the body. This article will provide you with some tips to help you protect your tonsils from this potentially deadly disease.
Tonsil cancer has two basic types: regional and distant. Regionally, it may spread to nearby lymph nodes and tissues. It may even spread to the epiglottis, the jawbone, lungs, and liver. Treatment for tonsil cancer depends on the stage and type of tumor, as well as how advanced the cancer is. A surgeon may have to remove part of the tonsil tissue or perform another procedure to remove the cancerous cells.
A biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of tonsil cancer. If it is suspected, your ENT will remove some of the suspicious tissue and send it to a pathologist. This process may be done in the doctor’s office or by using numbing medication. A biopsy may also be performed with a laryngoscopy. The biopsy may be a small piece of tissue or the entire tonsil. A biopsy is a painless procedure that will allow your doctor to determine if cancer is present.
Earlier detection is key for tonsil cancer. Earlier diagnosis may increase your chances of survival. Some cancers respond to treatment better if detected early. Oftentimes, early detection can prevent the need for surgery or radiation. If detected at an early stage, tonsil cancer can be treated and cured. But you should still seek professional medical care, as this condition can be devastating for your health. While early detection is not always possible, it is always better to take proactive measures.
Treatment of tonsil cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer, the size of the growth, and the quality of the patient’s life. Surgery is one of the most common forms of treatment. The doctor will remove as much of the cancer as possible, and then examine the nearby lymph nodes. The surgery may involve cutting a section of the tonsil or even the throat. The extent of the surgery will depend on the size of the tumor.
Surgery and chemotherapy are two popular treatments for tonsil cancer. Chemotherapy is a form of palliative therapy that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. If surgery isn’t possible, cancer cells may be removed with radiation. Chemotherapy also slows the growth of the tumor. This type of therapy can be used alone or combined with chemotherapy. It is most effective for early-stage cancer, but advanced tumors may require chemotherapy and radiation.
