Everything about throat cancer and its treatment through Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Basically, throat cancer is a type of cancer that develops in your pharynx, larynx, or tonsils. Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in any part of the body. These uncontrollable grown cells may get malignant known as tumors. These parts start from behind your nose and end somewhere in your neck. These organs allow you to swallow, speak, and breathe. Throat cancer usually starts in the flat cells present inside your throat. It is very likely to affect the epiglottis that acts as the lid of your windpipe. It is an uncommon type of cancer as compared to other cancers.
Types of throat cancer
The following are the primary types of throat cancer, depending upon which cells get affected:
Squamous cell carcinoma
In this type of throat cancer, cancer affects the flat cells that line your throat. This is the most common throat cancer in the US.
Adenocarcinoma
In this type of throat cancer, the glandular cells of your throat get affected. This is a rare type of throat cancer.
Although the same type of cells replicates in the cancers, specific terms are used to differentiate the part of the throat where cancer developed. The following are the types of throat cancer:
- Nasopharyngeal cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in the nasopharynx that is the beginning of the throat just behind the back of your nose.
- Oropharyngeal cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in the oropharynx that is the beginning of the throat just behind the back of your mouth and it may include your tonsils.
- Hypopharyngeal or laryngopharyngeal cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in the Hypopharyngeal or laryngopharyngeal cancer that is the end of the throat just above your windpipe and esophagus.
- Glottic cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in your vocal cords.
- Supraglottic cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in the upper part of the larynx and the epiglottis, the part which prevents food from entering your windpipe.
- Subglottic cancer
This is a type of throat cancer that develops in the lower part of your voice box, just below your vocal cords.
Stages of Throat Cancer
Like every other cancer, throat cancer has four stages also. These stages of throat cancer describe how severe the cancer is. The throat cancer in stages I and II are less severe forms of cancer and they do not spread in other organs. In stage III, throat cancer may have traveled to the lymph nodes or other parts of the throat. In the last stage, stage IV, cancer spreads to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body, including the chest, head, neck, lungs, or liver.
Symptoms of throat cancer
If you have throat cancer, you will most probably experience no symptoms in the initial stages.
Once it is in the third or fourth stage, you might start noticing the symptoms of throat cancer. Following are the symptoms of throat cancer:
- Constant cough
- Coughing blood
- Wheezing
- Difficulty during swallowing
- Pain in ear and throat
- Change in voice
- Difficulty in speaking
- A lump or sore in the throat
- Sudden loss in weight
- A constant need to clear throat
- Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck
- Difficulty in breathing
- Headache
Causes of throat cancer
Throat cancer is more common in men as compared to women. It develops due to the mutations in the cells of your throat that cause the cells to multiply and divide uncontrollably faster than the healthy cells. The uncontrollable and abnormal growth of these cells in your throat can form tumors. Basically, the cause of these mutations is not known yet. But the researchers and doctors claim that the following factors increase your risk of developing throat cancer:
Excessive tobacco use
Using tobacco in excessive amounts means either chewing it or smoking it for a long time. The use of tobacco is the most significant factor that increases the risk of different cancers such as throat, head, lung, and neck cancers.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Drinking alcohol regularly in excessive amounts, increases your risk of developing throat cancer.
In women, excessive drinking means more than one drink a day while in men, it means more than two in a day. If you’re drinking and smoking at the same time, it drives your risk of developing throat cancer even more.
Excessive exposure to chemicals
If you remain exposed to chemicals such as nickel, asbestos, sulphuric acid, etc., for longer periods of time, you have a higher risk of developing throat cancer.
Poor lifestyle
There are a number of poor lifestyles that increase your risk to develop throat cancer. For
For example, poor mouth, and dental hygiene and a poor diet that lacks sufficient fruits and vegetables can lead to throat cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with cancers in the mouth and behind it such as throat, tongue, and tonsil cancers.
Treatment of throat cancer through LDN
Cancers including throat cancer tend to grow very quickly. Therefore, you must know all about it so that you can get it treated earlier to have a better quality of life. Other than the traditional methods of treating cancers, Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), is known to treat a number of cancers including throat cancer. Low-dose naltrexone has remained hidden for years on the edges of medicine.
Naltrexone is also known as a wonder drug and was basically used for treating the problems of excessive alcohol drinking and drug addiction. But in recent years, research and
Evidence has shown that it can be used to treat uncountable other diseases if given in low doses. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) can be used to control the growth of cancer cells in the body.
You can get Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in all forms from the harbor compounding pharmacy. Do visit their website for more details.