If you have been diagnosed with tonsillitis cancer, you may be curious about the prognosis, or outlook, for the condition. Prognosis is a doctor’s estimation of the condition’s severity and how likely it is to cure or spread. Many people want to know what their prognosis is, but not everyone wants to know. Doctors use various tests to assess whether the cancer is spreading or has a favorable prognosis.
Although tonsillitis cancer symptoms vary from person to person, most people experience a persistent sore throat for up to 2 weeks. If the symptoms persist after two weeks, they may be an indicator of something else. Your primary care physician, a dentist, and an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat) can help diagnose the condition. An indirect mirror examination will be performed on you and will involve examining the back of your throat with a small mirror. The physician will ask you to make noises and breathe through your mouth to determine the presence of cancerous cells.
If the cancer has spread to other tissues or lymph nodes, your doctor may suggest surgery. During surgery, a surgeon will remove the cancerous mass and any precancerous cells present in the tonsil. If the cancer is not in the mouth, the surgeon will use a technique called lateral pharyngotomy to gain access. Other surgeries may include neck dissection, which involves splitting the jaw and removing the lymph nodes.
When the disease has spread to the tonsils, it will be difficult to cure. Your doctor will perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. During the procedure, the ENT will remove a sample of the tonsil tissue and send it to a pathologist. The pathologist will examine the biopsy for cancer cells as well as for signs of HPV infection. A biopsy can be either a sample of the cancer or the entire tonsil.
Many people are unaware that they have tonsillitis cancer. Most people are only aware of the condition when they have enlarged tonsils. Although the disease usually occurs in adults over 50, it can occur in anyone at any age. It is associated with tobacco and alcohol use. But there are many other causes of tonsil cancer. This article discusses the various types of tonsil cancer and the prognosis. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor may perform various imaging tests to help determine the extent of the tumor. This may include chest X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will also take a biopsy of the cancerous tissue. A biopsy is necessary when the cancer has spread to nearby structures. The results of this procedure will help the doctor decide what type of treatment will be best for you. The biopsy results can show the cancer’s stage and the treatment plan for your condition.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for advanced tonsil cancer. It is administered either intravenously or through a pill. It targets the cancer cells that grow rapidly. It can kill normal cells as well. Several chemotherapy treatments can last for months and are given in two to three week cycles. Sometimes chemotherapy is combined with surgery. During the course of the treatment, the cancer cells will die or stop growing. However, there is always a risk of recurrence.
