In the United States alone, it is estimated that 3% of adults with malignancies are diagnosed with Stage 4 Throat Cancer. Based on national statistics, the bulk of the cases are usually men and they have twice the likelihood of dying from it than women. Unfortunately, about 70% of cases are already on advanced stages when a person is diagnosed. But with a simple change, this type of cancer can be avoided.
Throat cancer or oropharnygeal carcinoma is basically the rapid growth of cells in the throat. It is divided into four stages and it gets worse as the patient goes up a step. Aside from smoking, alcohol consumption also contributes in causing the disease, although, race and genetics also play a role in this. Other causes would include cultural practices like the chewing of tobacco, familial disposition, and exposure to certain sexually transmissible infections, work-related hazards and even gastric reflux.
Stage 4 throat cancer survival rate primarily depends on the general condition of the patient, the aggressiveness of the treatment and to a certain degree the will power of the patient. The stage 4 throat cancer survival rate is considered to be good by many medical studies. During the early stages, the patient has a 90% chance of surviving the disease and about a third of it for those in the advanced stages. As mentioned earlier, with proper and early treatment, good support systems and maintaining good health can greatly increase the chance of surviving the disease.
While a stage 4 throat cancer prognosis greatly clings on how well the cancer is staged. Staging is very important because it will serve as a guide to treatment and also show how far the cancer has gone. Diagnostics procedures like needle biopsies, pathology reports and advanced imaging modalities like the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are valuable tools in determining the stage of the cancer. Proper staging is important because this will greatly help the medical team in properly treating the patient. Sadly, there were reported cases in which the cancer returned and this can greatly lower the chances of survival to less than 5 years regardless of treatments used. Additionally, total remission can only be declared if the patient went through that 5 years without any other complications.
The old adage said that prevention is better than cure and this disease is very much preventable. Simple lifestyle changes like ceasing tobacco use and limiting the consumption of alcohol can greatly lower the risk in developing the disease. Quitting the habit of smoking, limiting the intake of alcohol, proper nutrition and proper exercise can greatly help in lowering the risk of throat cancer. Equally as important, having a regular check-up with your doctor would also be good for early detection especially since patients cannot feel the symptoms of the disease in its early stages.
It is a very scary experience when one is diagnosed with any kind of cancer. However, one must always remember that surviving such an affliction depends not only in the treatment and the doctors but also the will to survive and having the proper support can help you get through it.
Uploading ....
statistics, the bulk of the cases are usually men and they have twice the likelihood of dying from it than women. Unfortunately, about 70% of cases are already on advanced stages when a person is diagnosed. But with a simple change, this type of cancer can be avoided.