The life expectancy for different stages of cancer is different. This article deals with survival rate for throat cancer, especially in the 4th stage.
Cancer is a disease where a cell or a group of cells grows uncontrollably and intrudes into adjacent tissues. This disease can grow in any part of the body, and can also spread to other parts. It can affect people of all age groups. When cancerous tumors grow in the pharynx, larynx, or the tonsils, it is termed as throat cancer. This can be detected at any stage, and the life expectancy of a person affected by this depends on the stage it was detected in. In this write up, we will see the survival rate for throat cancer. Before that, let’s go through the different stages of cancer of the throat.
Throat Cancer Stages
Constant coughing, change in voice, ear pain, lump which does not heal, sore throat, weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, etc., are the common symptoms of this cancer. Its prognosis is based on the current stage. The survival rate changes in every stage.
Stage I
This is the initial stage. Cancer can develop in any part of the throat and spread to other parts. In the first stage, the size of the tumor is not more than 1 inch. The lymph nodes are not affected in this stage, and therefore, the life expectancy in stage 1 is higher with the appropriate treatment.
Stage II
This is also an early stage, in which the tumor increases in size and can grow up to two inches. Although the size of the tumor has increased, the cancer cells have not made their way to the lymph nodes yet. Hence, the rate of survival in stage 2 is also pretty high. With appropriate treatment, the person can be cured of the disease.
Stage III
The condition in this stage, although not critical, is quite serious. When cancer reaches this stage, it is full-blown, and starts showing its adverse effects. The lymph nodes are affected with cancer. The line of treatment for this stage is normally surgery, after which, the patient has to go through chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Stage IV
The 4th stage is an advanced stage where the survival rate is rather low. However, there have been cases where the patient has been able to come out of it after an uphill battle. In this stage, the cancer spreads to the mouth and the lips. It also makes its way to the lymph nodes, and can show adverse effects on the patient’s face.
Stage 4 Throat Cancer Survival Rate
The life expectancy depends on the age of the victim, overall health of the victim, and the extent of invasion of the cancerous growth. The patient’s will power also has an important role to play in the recovery from this life-threatening disease. Life expectancy increases manifold if the patient has the will to live and fight for his/her life. There have been cases of throat cancer patients who have fought back valiantly. The right line of treatment will also have a big role to play. The survival rate in the 4th stage is as much as 30%. It simply means that one can certainly survive.
The survival rates are different for different stages. It is important to stay positive and fight this battle, which is certainly conquerable.
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and not intended to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.
