Is Throat Cancer Curable?
Duke Expert Answers Your Throat Cancer Questions
If you’ve been diagnosed with throat cancer, also known as pharyngeal cancer, you probably have a lot of questions. Like many other types of cancer, whether throat cancer is curable depends on a lot of factors. Here, Duke Health’s Russel Kahmke, MD -- an ear, nose, and throat doctor and surgical oncologist -- shares his expertise to help you know what to expect.
What are the types of throat cancer?
According to Dr. Kahmke, there are a few types of throat cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer originates in the upper part of your throat and includes the soft palate, tonsils, and base of the tongue. Hypopharyngeal cancer begins in the lower part of your throat, above the esophagus and trachea. Laryngeal cancer, which originates in the voice box, is sometimes considered a type of throat cancer.
What does my tumor stage mean?
“Early-stage tumors (stage 1 and 2) tend to be smaller, have not invaded nearby structures like the larynx, and have no or minimal lymph node involvement,” said Dr. Kahmke. “Once the tumor starts invading adjacent and/or critical structures or more lymph nodes are involved, it gets to the advanced stage (stage 3 and 4).” Unresectable cancer (meaning it cannot be removed via surgery), and metastatic cancer, meaning it has spread to other areas in the body, have the highest stages (stage 4b and 4c).
What are the treatment options for throat cancer?
In general, radiation or surgery are the mainstays of throat cancer treatment, Dr. Kahmke said. For people with advanced-stage tumors, both surgery and radiation may be recommended to achieve the best outcomes.
“Success between radiation and surgery depends on the tumor’s stage and location. For example, stage 4 laryngeal cancer is best treated with surgery followed by radiation. But for stage 3 laryngeal cancer, outcomes are equal between surgery and radiation, so it comes down to considering potential side effects and patient preferences.”
Chemotherapy can be added to radiation to make it more effective. Chemotherapy or immunotherapy may be recommended before surgery to help preserve critical structures or predict treatment response.
What are the most common side effects of throat cancer treatment?
According to Dr. Kahmke, your breathing, swallowing, and speech can be affected by throat cancer treatment. You could also experience changes in taste, problems chewing, dry mouth, fibrosis (a build-up of fibrous tissue that can impair function), and neck stiffness.
Is throat cancer curable?
Many cases of throat cancer are curable, Dr. Kahmke said. The stage at diagnosis ultimately determines how likely a cure is, with earlier-stage tumors having better outcomes. In general, people with throat cancer that has spread beyond the head and neck have worse outcomes. Other factors, like tobacco use and whether the tumor was caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), also make a big difference in curability.
When am I considered cured?
Recurrence rates depend on your cancer stage at diagnosis, what treatment(s) you undergo, and certain “pathologic features,” like cancer cells spreading into fatty tissue surrounding nearby lymph nodes or bundles of nerves, whether any cancer cells were left behind after surgery, or whether cancer cells look abnormal under a microscope, according to Dr. Kahmke. Because most recurrences happen within the first two years, you can be considered “cured” when cancer hasn’t returned in the five years after you completed treatment.
