INFORMATION ON PHARYNX CANCER:-

The term Pharynx Cancer s may be defined as a group of cancers that found in the head and neck region of human body. Pharynx Cancer includes in the part of:-

1. The oral cavity (mouth, lips, tongue, teeth, gums, lining inside the lips and cheeks).
2. The oropharynx (back of the tongue, back of the throat).
3. Nasopharynx (area behind the nose).
4. Hypopharynx (lower part of the throat).
5. The larynx (voice box, located in front of the neck).

CAUSES OF PHARYNX CANCER:-

The exact cause of Pharynx Cancer is unknown but it has been subjected that Pharynx Cancer in body is due to:-

1. Use of tobacco.
2. Excessive drinking of alcohol.
3. Irritation to the lining of the mouth, due to jagged teeth or ill-fitting dentures.
4. Exposure to asbestos.
5. Exposure to sun over a prolonged period.
6. Chewing of betel nut.
7. Inhalation of wood dust.

SYMPTOMS OF PHARYNX CANCER:-

Symptoms depend on the location of the cancer:

1. Mouth: a sore that does not heal within two weeks, unusual bleeding from the teeth or gums, a white or red patch in the mouth, a lump or thickening in the mouth, throat, or tongue.
2. Larynx: persistent hoarseness or sore throat, difficulty breathing, or pain.
3. Hypopharynx and oropharynx: difficulty in swallowing or chewing food, ear pain.
4. Nose, sinuses, and nasopharyngeal cavity: pain, bloody discharges from the nose, blocked nose, and frequent sinus infections that do not respond to standard antibiotics.

DIAGNOSIS OF PHARYNX CANCER:-

1. Physical examination of the oral and nasal cavity, using mirrors and other visual aids.
2. Blood tests.
3. X rays.
4. CT scan.
5. MRI.
6. Biopsy

TREATMENT OF PHARYNX CANCER:-

There are three main types of treatment available for treating Pharynx Cancer they are:-

1. Radiation therapy.
2. Surgery.
3. Chemotherapy.

In subjects with early-stage of Pharynx Cancer s are treated with one source, either radiation therapy or surgery. Subjects who have more extensive cancers are often treated with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy or with radiation therapy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy.

If the aim of treatment is radiation therapy alone for the primary cancer, the neck is also treated with radiation therapy. In addition, a neck dissection to remove involved lymph nodes in the neck may be necessary if the amount of disease in the neck nodes is relatively extensive or if the cancer in the neck nodes has not been eliminated completely by the end of the radiation therapy course.

Another treatment that might be necessary before or after radiation therapy is surgery. In general, if the surgical removal of the primary tumor is indicated, radiation is given afterward if necessary. Sometimes, however, the cancer is extensive or it is not feasible to completely remove the cancer initially.

The initial treatments are radiation therapy or surgery, or both combined; chemotherapy is sometimes used as an additional, or adjuvant, treatment. The optimal combination of the three treatment modalities for a patient with a particular Pharynx Cancer depends on the site of the cancer and the stage (extent) of the disease.