Symptoms & Prevention of Throat Cancer

Posted On: 08-24-2018

No one ever wants to meet with their doctor and be given a diagnosis of cancer. While not all cancers are death sentences, most will need to be treated with intense and dangerous methods. Typically, a cancer diagnosis is a life-changing one. There are many types of cancer that someone can be diagnosed with. One type is throat cancer. This form of cancer is one where cancerous tumors develop in a person's tonsils, voice box or throat.

Symptoms & Risk Factors

One big sign to keep an eye out for is a change in your voice. If you voice begins sounding hoarse and you are not able to speak clearly, this could be an indication of something serious going on. Other symptoms to keep a watch for are coughing, ear pain, difficulty swallowing, sores and lumps that won't heal, sore throat and unexplained weight loss.

While anyone is susceptible to getting throat cancer, there are some risk factors that make someone more prone to it. The riskiest factor that can lead to throat cancer is the use of tobacco products. This includes both smoking and chewing tobaccos. Another risk factor is those who have been diagnosed with HPV. Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to numerous health problems including cancer. Other factors include excessive alcohol use, GERD and a diet that is lacking in vegetables and fruits.

Prevention

There is no single way to prevent getting throat cancer. However, there are some ways to reduce your risk of it occurring. The most important one is to not smoke. If you smoke or use tobacco products, your likelihood of getting throat cancers goes up significantly. Another way to reduce your risk of throat cancer is to only drink alcohol in moderation. For most healthy adults, this means no more than one drink per day. The amount of fruits and vegetables you consume can directly affect your risk of getting throat cancer. It is important to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet each day that includes a colorful variety of both fruits and vegetables.

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