Pharynx and larynx cancer: Another reason to leave snuff

The habit of smoking, as doctors and specialists stress is one of the major risk factors for these tumors. The snuff is, next to alcohol, one of the main allies of these tumors, an increase in recent years in the number of female patients.

When tumor cells are reproduced in the larynx may also affect nearby organs (pharynx, inside the mouth). It is, one of the three forms of laryngeal cancer growth and called local growth. This type of tumor may also grow lymphatic spread (the lymph) or hematogenous spread (less commonly, through the blood vessels). Laryngeal cancer is directly related to the consumption of snuff. In fact, smoking is a major risk factor, and one that is also in our hand to avoid. A higher consumption, and longer, more risks.

Next to snuff, alcohol also increases the risk of developing this cancer. Other factors include the age-the older, higher risk-and unbalanced diets. Poor diets in two essential foods such as fruit and vegetables increase the risk of laryngeal cancer. As doctors underscore, it tends to match that patients diagnosed with cancer, and smokers are those who carry a more unbalanced or diet with nutritional deficit of vitamins or minerals.

Symptoms

Early detection is, as in other cancers, fundamental to begin treatment as soon as possible and win the battle to the tumor. In this case, the most common symptoms are problems in voice, hoarseness or dysphonia. A symptom that, by the way, is usually more frequent in smokers (hoarseness, cough). If the symptoms are not specific, but persist, consult a doctor.

Other symptoms associated with cancer of the larynx are the involvement of lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) in the neck, pain (especially when swallowing), dry throat or feeling of fatigue and shortness of breath (dyspnea).

Types of larynx cancer

Depending on the location defines the various types of laryngeal cancer. The tumor derived from squamous, cells in the mucosa of the larynx, is known as squamous cell or epidermoid. Meanwhile, we can also speak of supraglottic cancer, glottic or subglottic, depending on the area of the body in which it originates.

Pharynx cancer and Human Papillomavirus
But there are other risk factors to consider in the prevention of cancers that affect the neck, mouth and pharynx, such as the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV, according to doctors, may be behind a significant number of diagnoses of tonsil cancer.