Best Doctors for Throat Cancer in Kolkata

Types/Stages of Throat Cancer

There are two primary categories based on the site of throat cancer identified by throat cancer specialists:

• Pharyngeal Cancer: This involves the pharynx, extending from behind the nose to the top of the oesophagus namely Hypopharyngeal Cancer (bottom part), Nasopharyngeal Cancer (top part), and Oropharyngeal Cancer (middle part).

• Laryngeal Cancer: This variant affects the larynx or voice box. It can develop in multiple regions including Glottis (area containing vocal cords), Supraglottis (above the glottis), and Subglottis (below the glottis).

Throat cancer is staged into four levels based on the size and

• Stage 1: The cancer is small (7 cm or less) and limited to the throat only.

• Stage 2: The cancer has grown larger but remains in the throat only, with no sign of spreading to lymph nodes or distant organs.

• Stage 3: The cancer has spread through the throat and grown into nearby tissues or organs that may or may not have spread to lymph nodes.

• Stage 4: The cancer has grown into nearby organs and tissues, and may have spread to distant organs (such as the lungs), with or without lymph node involvement.

Symptoms of Throat Cancer

Throat cancer can manifest through various symptoms that include:

• Difficulty or pain during swallowing

• Hoarseness

• Ear pain

• Lumps in the neck

• Persistent sore throat

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Changes in voice

Tests to Diagnose Throat Cancer

The throat cancer treatment doctors at Apollo Hospitals Kolkata deploy multiple diagnostic procedures to detect the condition, such as:

• Physical Examinations: To detect any physical signs of throat cancer.

• Blood Tests: To assess overall health and organ function.

• Biopsies: To examine a sample of suspicious tissue under a microscope.

• Endoscopy: To visualise the throat using a special camera.

• Imaging Tests: Including CT, PET, and MRI scans to ascertain the extent and location of cancer.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Throat Cancer at Apollo Hospitals Kolkata

The choice of treatment is typically based on cancer size, spread, and the patient’s overall health. Incorporating comprehensive care into their plan, the doctors for throat cancer treatment at Apollo Hospitals Kolkata offer a range of therapeutic options for managing the condition. Some of these include:

• Surgery: To remove small or even large tumours that haven’t yet spread too much, throat cancer surgeons may perform surgical interventions.

• Radiation Therapy: Using high-energy beams to kill cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy: Employing drugs to kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells.

• Targeted Therapy: Using drugs that selectively attack specific abnormalities in cancer cells.

• Immunotherapy: It boosts the body’s immune response against cancer cells by blocking proteins that suppress immune activity, used for advanced or recurrent throat cancer.