When you’re facing a diagnosis of pharyngeal cancer or another type of head and neck cancer, it can be difficult to make decisions about your care or know where to turn to for help.
The OSUCCC – James in Columbus, Ohio, is home to some of the country’s most talented head and neck cancer experts. They, along with a collaborative team of specialists, will work diligently to provide you with an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive treatment plan and compassionate care.
Where you go for treatment for pharyngeal cancer matters, and the OSUCCC – James will walk you through every step from diagnosis to survivorship. If you or a loved one have pharyngeal cancer, the choice for that care is clear.
What is pharyngeal cancer?
Pharyngeal cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the pharynx, which is part of the throat. It’s a head and neck cancer, and most pharyngeal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, meaning they start in the thin, flat cells lining the throat.
There are several different types of pharyngeal cancer, depending on the area of the pharynx where the cancer develops.
What is the pharynx?
The pharynx is a part of the throat that runs from behind the nasal cavities and mouth to the openings of the larynx (voice box) and esophagus. It plays a vital role in many daily functions, including swallowing food, talking and even breathing.
Parts of the pharynx include:
- Nasopharynx (upper part)
- Oropharynx (middle part)
- Hypopharynx (lower part)
Cancer can develop in various parts of the pharynx. These types of cancer are called nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer, respectively. While these cancers have similarities, they do have slightly different survival rates and causes.
Pharyngeal cancer causes and risk factors
Pharyngeal cancer is caused by abnormal cells developing in the pharynx and multiplying into a cancerous tumor. While we don’t know exactly why this happens, there are some factors that put you at an increased risk for pharyngeal cancer. It’s important to remember that having one or more risk factors does not mean you will necessarily develop the condition, but talk to your doctor about your risks.
Risk factors for pharyngeal cancer include:
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Heavy drinking
- Infection of the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus, which is linked to nasopharyngeal cancer
- Previous diagnosis and treatment of a head and neck cancer
In years past, most pharyngeal cancers could be attributed to tobacco or alcohol. While throat cancer related to those substances has been on the decline, HPV-related cancer has been steadily on the rise. Fortunately, those with HPV-related throat cancer tend to have improved prognosis and better responses to treatment.
Pharyngeal cancer symptoms
One of the first symptoms of pharyngeal cancer is often a painless lump in the upper neck. Other common symptoms include:
- Persistent sore throat or cold symptoms
- Difficulty or painful swallowing
- Voice changes
- Difficulty breathing
- Ear pain or fullness
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
- Nosebleeds
- Headaches
- Blurry vision
While these symptoms are more often linked to common, less severe conditions, it’s important to talk to your doctor about them, especially if they aren’t improving over time.
Diagnosing and staging pharyngeal cancer
Diagnosing pharyngeal cancer can be a challenge since the symptoms mimic other more common conditions, but the head and neck oncologists at the OSUCCC – James have the expertise and technology to accurately determine what may be causing your symptoms. To diagnose pharyngeal cancer, we’ll use various diagnostic tools including:
- A physical exam to look for lumps or other abnormalities
- Blood tests to run any labs that could give us information about your health
- Imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to examine the pharynx and nearby areas
- Endoscopy to provide close assessment of the impacted area using a thin lighted tube
- Biopsy to test tissue collected from the pharynx during an endoscopy or other procedure if cancer is suspected
During these diagnostic tests, if pharyngeal cancer is detected, we’ll also determine how advanced it is. This is called the stage of the cancer. Staging depends on a variety of factors, including size of tumor and whether the cancer has spread. With pharyngeal cancer, we’ll also identify if it’s HPV-negative or HPV-positive at the same time. This will help inform the best course of treatment.
Pharyngeal cancer treatment
Since the OSUCCC – James is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, you’ll have access to leading-edge treatments for pharyngeal cancer. Our head and neck oncology specialists will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan based on a variety of factors, including where the cancer is located, its stage and your overall health.
Types of treatment for pharyngeal cancer include:
- Radiation – This is the most common treatment for pharyngeal cancer. During radiation, we use high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from growing. Often radiation is used alongside chemotherapy (chemoradiation) for pharyngeal cancer.
- Chemotherapy – These are medications that kill cancer cells. Combining chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) is a common in treating pharyngeal cancer, but chemotherapy can also be used after surgery to decrease the chances of cancer returning or in advanced-stage pharyngeal cancer to slow the growth of the tumor.
- Surgery – Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the tumor, especially if it’s returned, and nearby lymph nodes. Our expert head and neck surgeons can often use less invasive techniques through transoral robotic surgery to remove the throat tumor.
- Immunotherapy – In some cases of pharyngeal cancer, we’re able to use your body’s own immune system to attack the cancer cells.
If you’ve been diagnosed with pharyngeal cancer or would like a second opinion, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 800-240-4477 to make an appointment.