How Oropharyngeal Cancer Is Identified And Treated

The middle section of your throat is called the oropharynx, and cancer in this region is called oropharyngeal cancer. Doctors can treat oropharyngeal cancer, but it has a tendency to come back. To reduce the risk of getting this cancer, you should avoid the use of tobacco, smoking, and alcoholic beverages and protect yourself against HPV (Human papillomavirus). HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection.

A routine oral exam can reveal oral cavity, pre-cancer, or oropharyngeal cancer, but in general, this cancer is found when a person develops prominent signs or symptoms. If cancer of the oropharynx is detected, then one needs to do other tests to confirm it.

Let us delve deeper into what oropharyngeal cancer is, how it is diagnosed, and ways to treat it.

Details of Cancer of Oropharynx

• The area inside our throat which makes saliva is called the pharynx. This area is moist due to saliva formation, which helps us digest food.
• The tissue at the back of your throat, for example, the palate, tonsils, and pharynx, is where oropharyngeal cancer occurs.
• HPV is the biggest factor for cancer in the oropharynx, and as per CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), around seventy percent of this cancer is due to HPV.
• HPV has the capacity to integrate into our DNA and can stop the production of tumor-suppressor proteins, which leads to the growth of cancerous cells that go unchecked.
• Some of the other significant factors that cause this cancer are smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and not eating enough vegetables and fruits.

Warning Signs of Oropharyngeal cancer

Your body can indicate that you are suffering from cancer of the oropharynx in several ways, such as:

• You get a sore throat that doesn’t go away.
• There is a lump or soreness at the back of your throat, which is uncomfortable and does not heal.
• You feel like there is something stuck in your throat all the time.
• Your mouth or tongue feels numb.
• Your voice becomes hoarse or changes suddenly.
• There is bleeding or pain in the mouth.
• You find it difficult to swallow, chew, or move your jaws or tongue.
• You have trouble opening your mouth completely.
• You have unexplainable weight loss.
• You have persistent ear pain.
• A white patch appears on the lining of your mouth or tongue and does not go away.

How Does Your Doctor Diagnose Oropharyngeal Cancer?

Your dentist would initially perform an oral screening and enquire about your medical history and symptoms. Your doctor needs to know if you have a history of neck or head cancer or if you have undergone radiation therapy on your neck or head. 

Your dentist would also need to know about your lifestyle choices, such as whether you consume tobacco, smoke, etc. An external examination of the neck and throat for lumps would also be done by your doctor.

• Oral brush biopsy – The oral brush biopsy procedure involves using a brush to collect suspicious cells to check for the presence of cancer. These cells are then sent to the laboratory for analysis. If the cells reveal any malignant activity, then you would be referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor or an oral surgeon.
• CT scan – Your provider might also use a computed tomography scan to measure the size of the tumor and figure out if the tumor has spread. The doctor may combine a CT scan with a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan.
• MRI scan – MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging produces detailed images of a body part, especially soft tissues, for instance, tonsils or the base of our tongue. MRI also helps providers in determining the size of the tumor.

Treatment of Oropharyngeal Cancer

There are a couple of options available for treating cancer of the oropharynx, such as radiation therapy, surgery, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. The aim of any of these procedures is to eliminate cancer cells without hampering your speaking and swallowing capabilities as much as possible.

• Surgery – Cancer cells that are small and have not spread yet can be targeted with surgery. TORS (Transoral Robotic Surgery) is a common and minimally invasive surgery that addresses difficult-to-reach cancer cells in the oropharynx. Robotic surgery does not require a large incision in your neck or splitting of your lower jaw to remove tumors in your throat. Your provider does not even need to insert a breathing tube to perform this procedure.
• Chemotherapy – Your doctor may use chemotherapy on its own or combine it with radiation therapy. The combination therapy can target those cancer cells that have spread to other areas of your body and shrink them before surgery. This procedure can also kill cancer cells that remain after the surgery.
• Targeted therapy – In targeted therapies, lab-made versions of monoclonal antibodies (proteins in your immune system) are used to block a protein that cancer cells depend on for dividing, growing, and spreading.
• Immunotherapy – If the cancer has spread or returned, immunotherapy is the first line of treatment your doctor would go for. With this therapy, your immune system can find and destroy cancer cells.

Oropharyngeal cancer is caused mostly due to an STI (sexually transmitted infection) called HPV. Some lifestyle habits like smoking, tobacco, or excessive alcohol can also cause it. You must visit your doctor as soon as possible if you feel you have any of the symptoms discussed in this article.