i have had ongoing chest infections for 4 months, i have also had a serious pain!


Question: I have had ongoing chest infections for 4 months, i have also had a serious pain in my side since christmas?
(under my ribs) now i have lost my voice, there is no pain in my throught . I am 44 and have smoked for 30 years, i am having an x ray this afternoon and i am afraid they might find cancer, do any of these symptoms sound familiar to anyone who has suffered cancer?

Answers:

The most common symptoms of throat cancer are:

Hoarseness that does not resolve in 1 to 2 weeks
Sore throat that does not resolve in 1 to 2 weeks, even with antibiotics
Neck pain
Difficulty swallowing
Swelling in the neck
Unintentional weight loss
Unexplained cough
Coughing up blood
Abnormal (high-pitched) breathing sounds
How is Throat Cancer Diagnosed?

If your doctor believes you may have throat cancer, he will order a series of tests. A laryngoscopy will be conducted. A laryngoscopy is an examination by use of a tube with a small lighted camera. A cranial CT scan and/or cranial MRI may also be conducted. These tests will help determine if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck.

Your doctor may also conduct a biopsy to analyze tissues that may be cancerous. A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination. Biopsies are used to help diagnose disease.

Can Throat Cancer be Treated?

Yes. Treatment is aimed at destruction of the cancer cells and prevention of spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.

Some common treatment options are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

If the tumor that contains the cancer cells is small, either surgery or radiation therapy alone can be used to eliminate the tumor. If the tumor is not small, or has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, a more aggressive treatment of radiation and chemotherapy is often needed.

In some cases, surgery is needed to remove the tumor and vocal cords is necessary. If the vocal cords are removed, artificial vocal cords may be implanted into the throat.

Complications of Throat Cancer

Some common complications of throat cancer are:

Airway obstruction
Loss of voice and speaking ability
Disfigurement of the neck or face
Hardening of the skin of the neck
Difficulty swallowing
Spread of the cancer to other body areas
Can Throat Cancer be Prevented?

One of the bests ways to reduce your risk of developing throat cancer is to minimize or avoid smoking and excess alcohol use.



Stop smoking and go to the doctor and tell him your problems. He can better see why you are in so much pain. Your health is your wealth. Don't gamble with it. Good luck.




The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories