Pharyngeal Cancer Surgery
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Pharyngeal Cancer Treatment: Pharyngeal Surgery
One course of action doctors at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) may recommend for some pharyngeal (throat) cancer patients is surgery. They consider a number of factors before determining if surgery to remove a cancerous tumor is a viable treatment option. Factors include where the cancer is located in your throat, the size of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and your overall health.
The region of your throat that the cancerous tumor exists in is a critical factor. For example, patients with cancer of the nasopharynx (the upper portion of the throat) may be candidates for surgery if they are not responsive to radiation treatment. Surgery may also be recommended if the cancer has spread (metastasized) from this region to lymph nodes.
For cancer of the oropharynx (the middle portion of the throat), surgery may be used alone or in combination with other forms of conventional medicine.
For cancers located in the hypopharynx (the bottom portion of the throat), surgery is a common treatment. Additionally, after these patients undergo surgery, they may receive chemotherapy or radiation to ensure that any remaining cancer cells are eradicated.
If the pharyngeal cancer has metastasized, surgeons may perform a procedure to remove lymph nodes and tissues in the neck that are cancerous or at high risk for becoming cancerous.
Reconstructive surgery may also be necessary for some patients with pharyngeal cancer. This form of surgery helps to restore function (e.g., ability to swallow) and improve appearance.
Next Topic: Pharyngeal Cancer Radiation Therapy
