Head and neck cancers are just like any other cancer. If not treated, they will cause death in an individual. Experts in the medical field state that if a person’s oral hygiene is poor, they are at risk of this type of cancer. A lot of research is being conducted in the above arena. Popular doctors and medical professionals associated with cancer are spreading awareness to the maximum extent so that people are educated and can eliminate the risks of this cancer.
Dr. Paolo Boffetta is a respected name in the field of research when it comes to cancer epidemiology. His hometown is in Turin, Italy, and he lives in New York. He moved in 2010 to Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is the Director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology and Associate Director for Population Sciences of The Tisch Cancer Institute.
He also is the Bluedorn Professor of International Community Medicine. He has been associated with The Columbia University in New York, the International Agency for Research on Cancer at Lyon in France, as well as the German Cancer Research Center located at Heidelberg in Germany. He has also been associated and has held several prestigious posts in the past as well.
He says most of them are a kind of squamous cell carcinoma when it comes to tonsil cancer. There is a small number of tonsil cancers called lymphomas that often are found in the lymphatic system. When it comes to squamous cell carcinomas, their treatment is different from the latter.
Symptoms for squamous cell carcinomas-
The common symptoms are-
- Sore throat
- Difficulty to swallow
- Pain in the ears
- A painless lump is generally found in the back of the neck.
The common risk factors for the above type of cancer are-
- Smoking
- Heavy consumption of alcohol
- Human papilloma virus (HPV)
The risk is much higher if you smoke and drink together.
Doctors generally examine your throat with a small mirror. They place it inside the mouth and look for any lymph nodes that are swollen in the neck. You can confirm whether the diagnosis of the cancer is dangerous or not by taking a biopsy. Here, a small part of the tissue will be taken from the abnormal area.
A specialist will examine this tissue under a microscope and test it for the presence of cancer cells and HPV infection. Again, you may be advised to undergo a biopsy under a general anesthetic. Your doctor will use a camera and a tube known as a phonendoscope for examining your throat.
In the opinion of Dr. Paolo Boffetta in addition to the above, your doctor may advise you to conduct an ultrasound, a CT scan, an MRI scan, or a PET CT Scan. Based on these tests, your treatment plan will be devised. He also advises that you must practice good oral hygiene, go in for medical trials in case of abnormal lumps, and visit the dentist regularly for check-ups to prevent tonsil and any head and neck cancers.
