Pharyngeal Cancer Center

Cancer of the pharynx, more commonly known as the throat, is also called pharyngeal cancer. It can develop in any of the three regions of the pharynx:

• The nasopharynx: The area behind the nose and the back of the throat, which is the hollow tube at the upper part of the throat that starts behind the nose and runs down to the neck to become part of the esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach).
• The oropharynx: Consisting of the base of tongue, the tonsillar region, soft palate, and back of the mouth.
• The hypopharynx: The bottom part of the throat.

Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, tumors that develop in the tissue lining the hollow organs of the body. However, other tumor types also may be seen and include lymphoepithelioma, spindle cell carcinoma, verrucous cancer, undifferentiated carcinoma, and cancers of the lymph nodes, called lymphoma (most often widespread non-Hodgkin's lymphoma).

Excluding superficial skin cancers, but including cancer of the larynx and thyroid, it is conservatively estimated that about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with head and neck cancer annually. That is about five percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. There are more than 500,000 survivors of oral, head and neck cancers living in the United States today.

Factors known to contribute to the risk of developing head and neck cancers include smoking (both tobacco and marijuana) or chewing tobacco and alcohol use. Leukoplakia (white spots or patches in the mouth) also may be considered a risk factor, as this condition becomes cancerous in approximately one-third of patients.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we use many tools to help you fight pharyngeal cancer on all fronts. A powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies are provided by cancer experts who work with you to determine the appropriate combination of therapies. These may include the following:

• Surgery is often used to treat pharyngeal cancer. There are several types of surgery used. Some involve removing the cancer and others involve improving function. Surgery may help prevent future complications, such as blockage or bleeding.
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of conformal radiotherapy. IMRT utilizes a high-tech computer program that allows radiation oncologists and medical physicists to plan a precise dose of radiation in three dimensions, based on individual tumor size, shape and location. Remarkably, it allows for higher radiation doses than traditional radiotherapy methods, while sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue.
• High-Dose Radiation (HDR) Brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy) may be used to treat pharyngeal cancer. This method of precisely delivering radiation from the inside out spares surrounding healthy tissue and organs. It also may reduce the need for surgery.
• Fractionated-Dose Chemotherapy divides a powerful dose of drugs into incremental doses, given over several days. This approach exposes cancer cells to the drugs for a longer period of time, while also seeking to reduce the unpleasant side effects often experienced with larger doses of chemotherapy.

In addition to the therapies described above, CTCA enriches your treatment by offering complementary and alternative therapies, including naturopathic medicine, nutrition therapy, mind-body medicine, image enhancement and spiritual support. CTCA is with you every step of the way in what truly is the fight of your life.

Next Topic: Conventional Pharyngeal Cancer Treatments