In some cases, all or part of the tongue, throat, voice box, or jaw bone may need to be removed. Surgery may also be used to take out lymph nodes in the neck that might have cancer. Surgery can also be used to help you do things that the cancer may have changed. Some surgeries can even help rebuild part of the throat. Any type of surgery can have risks and side effects. Ask the doctor what you can expect. If you have problems, let your doctors know. Doctors who treat people with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers should be able to help you with any problems that come up.
Radiation uses high-energy rays like x-rays to kill cancer cells. It can be given alone or along with chemotherapy called chemoradiation. Radiation can also be used to help with symptoms such as pain, bleeding, trouble swallowing, or other problems that happen if the cancer has grown very large or has spread to other areas. If your doctor suggests radiation treatment, talk about what side effects might happen.
The most common side effects are:. Most side effects get better after treatment ends and many can be treated. Some might last longer. Ask your cancer care team what you can expect. Chemo is the short word for chemotherapy — the use of drugs to fight cancer.
The drugs may be given into a vein or taken as pills. These drugs go into the blood and spread through the body. Chemo is given in cycles or rounds. Each round of treatment is followed by a break. This gives the body time to recover. Most of the time, 2 or more chemo drugs are given. Treatment often lasts for many months. For oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, chemo is often given along with radiation. This is called chemoradiation. Chemo can make you feel very tired, sick to your stomach, and cause your hair to fall out.
But most of these problems go away after treatment ends. Other side effects like hearing problems or nerve damage can last a long time. There are ways to treat most chemo side effects. Read the latest information for visitors. The symptoms of head and neck cancer vary according to where the cancer began. Some general signs of head and neck cancer include the following:.
A broken area of skin ulcer that will not heal can be a sign of oral cancer. Most people with mouth cancer have this symptom. A lump in the jaw or mouth is a common sign of head and neck cancer. Lumps can also form in the lips. A lump in the neck may be a sign of thyroid cancer.
Or it may be caused by an enlarged lymph node. Swelling in one or more lymph nodes in the neck is a common symptom of head and neck cancer, including mouth cancer and salivary gland cancer. Lumps that come and go are not typically due to cancer. The accumulating cells can form a tumor in your throat.
It's not clear what causes the mutation that causes throat cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase your risk. Human papillomavirus HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that increases the risk of certain types of throat cancer. HPV has been linked to cancer that affects the soft palate, tonsils, back of the tongue, and the side and back wall of the throat. There's no proven way to prevent throat cancer from occurring. But in order to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can:.
Throat cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Parts of the throat pharynx Open pop-up dialog box Close. Parts of the throat pharynx The throat pharynx is a muscular tube that runs from the back of your nose down into your neck. Throat anatomy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Throat anatomy The throat includes the esophagus, windpipe trachea , voice box larynx , tonsils and epiglottis. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name.
Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. If the cancer has spread to the bones, symptoms may include bone or joint pain or fractures. Learn more about metastasis Diagnosing and treating throat cancer An array of tests may be used to diagnose throat cancer.
Tools used to diagnose throat cancer include: Biopsy: A sample of tissue may be removed to look for the presence of cancerous cells. Learn more about diagnostic procedures for throat cancer Treatment options of throat cancer Treatment for throat cancer may depend on many factors, including the specific type of cancer, where it is located and its stage.
Treatment options include: Surgery Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Targeted therapy Treatment for metastatic throat cancer may depend on where the cancer has spread and may include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Learn more about treatment options for throat cancer Managing symptoms and side effects The symptoms of throat cancer and side effects of treatment may cause pain and discomfort that impact your quality of life.
Supportive care services for throat cancer may include: Pain management Nutritional support Mind-body support Spiritual support Learn more about integrative care Get expert advice and care Understanding when symptoms of throat cancer are a sign of something serious and either diagnosing the disease or confirming a previous diagnosis require expertise from professionals trained and experienced in treating throat cancer.
Find a cancer expert Next topic: What are the types of throat cancer? Have questions about cancer? Just ask Alexa. Learn How. Donate to Gateway for Cancer Research Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Donate now.
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