The television collaborator Belen Rodriguez faces a difficult moment of health, because as she herself explained in the magazine Week, suffers from throat cancer. It all started with a sore throat that had lasted since last summer. A simple examination with his ENT specialist confirmed the diagnosis of a malignant tumor. Now she has treatment ahead to combat this disease and she does so full of spirit and dedicated to her health.
He is not the only well-known face who has received the diagnosis of this type of tumor. A.Maria Jiménez, Maria Teresa CamposVal Kilmer, Michael DouglasAmerican singer Jimmy Herring wave former tennis player Martina Navratilova They are united by having suffered from throat cancer, a disease that, in general, if caught in time, has a good prognosis. We spoke with him Dr. Vicente Guillem Porta responsible for the oncology unit at Vithas Valencia 9 de Octubre to resolve all the doubts we may have about tonsil cancer.
What is the current prevalence of tonsil cancer?
First of all, the oncology specialist explains to us that this type of cancer is included among the oropharyngeal cancerswhich includes tumors of the base of the tongue, tonsils, posterior pharyngeal wall and soft palate. The incidence is approximately 3-4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. In Spain, 7,603 cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancer are diagnosed annually, being more common in men (5,370 cases) than in women (2,233 cases).
Its incidence is increasing in developed countries and in relation, above all, to HPV infections.
One fact that alarms us is that in recent years the incidence has been increasing. Dr. Guillem points out that it is due to the changes produced in lifestyles in which exposure to risk factors (tobacco, alcohol and HIV infection) is increasing. human papilloma (HPV). “This increase is occurring in developed countries and in relation, above all, to HPV infections,” he maintains.
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, which is spread through mouth-to-mouth contact or especially through oral sex and constitutes one of the most important etiological factors for the development of the disease to the point that its epidemiological profile is changing. . “Patients with cancer of the tonsil and oropharynx with HPV infection are younger and less dependent on tobacco and alcohol than patients without the infection,” indicates the expert in oncological diseases.
– Read also: Laryngeal cancer: What are its symptoms?
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© GtresSymptoms or warning signs
The early detection In any oncological disease it is very important, since early diagnosis considerably increases survival. Therefore, you have to pay attention to these signs:
- Persistent sore throat, pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
- Ear pain (otalgia)
- Voice changes or persistent hoarseness
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Mouth bleeding
- Sometimes lumps (nodes) appear in the neck.
All the symptoms of tonsil (or throat) cancer can also appear in benign pathologies, but if they last more than two weeks a tumor process must be ruled out.
How it is diagnosed
The diagnostic method for this pathology is simple. “The clinical evaluation based on symptoms and the exploration of the oral cavity makes the diagnosis easy, which must be confirmed by a biopsy,” indicates Dr. Guillem Porta.
Once diagnosed, it is necessary to perform imaging studies using CT and MRI to know exactly the extent of the disease. “It is also very important to perform HPV testing on tumor tissue, as it is important in determining the prognosis and treatment of patients.”
Tonsil cancer treatment
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the therapeutic modalities that can be used in the treatment of these tumors. The therapeutic decision is complex and must be made within a multidisciplinary team (ENT, medical and radiation oncologist, pathologist, radiologist, etc.) and will depend on several factors: location, extension of the tumor (size, metastasis), general condition of the patient and presence or absence of HPV.
HPV-associated cancers tend to respond better to radiation therapy (RT), chemotherapy, and immunotherapy and have a better prognosis
Fortunately, “in recent years, important advances have been introduced that have improved the survival and quality of life of these patients. Minimally invasive surgery, intensity-modulated RT, targeted therapy with monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab) or immunotherapy on all in tumors with HPV are a good example of this,” he says.
© Getty ImagesHow to prevent this disease
Fortunately, there are many preventive measures that we can take to reduce the risk of developing tonsil and oropharyngeal cancer.
- Vaccination against the HPV virus, especially in adolescents of both sexes (this also reduces the incidence of cervical cancer).
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption.
- Practice safe sex (condoms, reduction of sexual partners)
- Good oral hygiene.