Tonsils help your body fight germs by acting as a barrier against bacteria and viruses.
They also play a role in swallowing and breathing.
Therefore, cancer that spreads to your tonsils can be fatal if not treated effectively.
Even slight damage to these organs can cause death, as they participate in many essential bodily functions.
Both benign and malignant tumours can form in your tonsil tissue, but benign tumours are more common.
Tonsil cancer is rare in children and even rarer in adults; most cases occur between the ages of 20 and 39.
Smoking is the primary cause of tonsillar cancer, followed by drinking alcohol excessively.
It can take decades for a person who regularly smokes to develop tonsillar cancer.
However, non-smokers who also regularly drink alcohol may be at a higher risk for this type of cancer as well.
Everyone should know what signs to look out for when their tonsils or oropharynx are at risk of developing cancer.
This is especially true for smokers and drinkers who may experience difficulty with their breathing or swallowing as well as those whose jobs put them at risk for mouth injuries- such as chefs working with sharp utensils! Early detection is crucial so that treatment can commence before any symptoms become serious enough to prevent normal bodily function!
Tonsils are part of the throat and part of the upper part of the digestive system.
They are located in the back of the throat, above the base of the tongue.
They are connected to the back of the nose and the inside of the mouth.
Tonsils help with breathing, swallowing, and immune system response.
Cancer that spreads to the tonsils and oropharynx is called tonsillar carcinomatosis and oropharyngeal cancer.
People most at risk include smokers and drinkers.
Cancer can spread to your tonsils and oropharynx if you don't treat it.
That's why it's important to recognize potential symptoms.
There are several treatments, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
MOUTH CANCER RESULTS FROM TONSIL AND OROPHARYNGEAL CANCERS; IT'S KNOWN AS OROPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA IN SITU (OCCI).
This form of cancer usually occurs in middle-aged men who smoke or drink excessively.
It's also sometimes caused by HPV infection or radiation treatment for tonsillar adenoid cystic hyperplasia (TACH).
The cancer cells usually start in the base of the tongue but eventually spread to other parts of the mouth.
Unfortunately, many people don't experience any signs or symptoms when their tonsils or oropharynx are affected by this type of cancer.
Unfortunately, many people don't experience any signs or symptoms when their tonsils or oropharynx are affected by this type of cancer.
Treatment involves surgery to remove all possible areas of metastasis along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy as necessary.