Normally, when we cut ourselves, cells begin to repair and heal by going through cell division and when it heals, the process ceases. Sometimes because of some obvious reasons, cells do not stop reproducing.
Uninterrupted reproduction of cells uncontrollably produces tumor or a cancer. Cancer is any growth, tumor, malignancy or disease in a particular part of the body that is lethal.
The DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) found inside the nucleus of the cell maintains the genetic code of the growth of the cell. But when some external factors interfere like smog, radiation, pollution, excessive sunlight as well as internal factors like inadequate nutrition or intake of food, toxins, stress, too much medicine and lack of exercise could adversely affect the DNA, thus, resulting to replication and development of cells.
Teachers are one of the most affected people for having a cancer particularly throat cancer because of their continuous talking and shouting (throat abuse) at talkative and hardheaded students not including the emotional (hurt feelings) and physical stress (tiredness) that goes with it.
The signs and symptoms of throat cancer would include the following: formation of lumps or tumors in the neck, loss of weight with no apparent cause, difficulty in swallowing, persistent hoarseness of voice, pain with swallowing, pain spreading out to the ear and difficulty in breathing.
“Early detection is better than cure”, is a passage that is in relation to the disease. If you are suffering from the symptoms, you better consult your EENT doctor for evaluation if you do not want to spend more especially if it worsens already. Cancer can be fatal if not treated in time.
Oropharyngeal and hypo pharyngeal cancer are the terms used to relate to cancers that involve the throat, base of the tongue, tonsil, pharynx or tube from the nasal passages to the mouth, to the esophagus and sinus.
If you are suffering from the symptoms the doctor will ask you to have the following for diagnosis: endoscopy, CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent and the status of the neck lymph nodes.
When your doctor diagnosed that you have the symptoms of throat cancer he can give you suggestions on how to cure it. The following may be the treatment: surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgery is advocated to remove small tonsil and palate tumors through the open mouth, and the laryngopharynx. It is important to know the exact location of the cancer because the cure is not the same for all.
By: MARITES T. DOMINGO | Teacher III | Limay National High School Limay, Bataan
