Actor Michael Douglas has recently been diagnosed with a throat tumor. The 65-year-old says he is optimistic and doctors expect him to make a full recovery from the disease. Douglas will undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, according to his publicist Allen Burry.
Cancerous tumors that develop in the throat, voice box or tonsils are referred to as throat cancer.
It isn’t known what caused the Academy Award winning actor’s throat tumor but according to the National Institutes of Health, throat cancer is most likely in those over age 50. Men are 10 times more likely to develop throat cancer symptoms than women.
The National Institutes of Health also reports that 85 percent of diagnosed head and neck cancer cases, including cancers of the throat, are linked to tobacco use.
The Mayo Clinic reports some additional risk factors for throat cancer include:
* Excessive alcohol use.
* Exposure to asbestos.
* Human papillomavirus or HPV.
* Lack of fruits and vegetables, poor nutrition.
* Poor dental hygiene.
* Tobacco use.
When found early the prognosis to make a full recovery is very high. According to the National Institutes of Health, if throat cancer is detected in the beginning stages and has not spread to other parts of the body there is a 90 percent cure rate. The disease in usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.
Although the Mayo Clinic says there is no proven way to prevent throat cancer, catching the symptoms early is the best way to beat the disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, throat cancer symptoms include:
* changes in the voice
* cough
* difficulty or pain when swallowing
* ear pain
* incessant sore throat
* loss of weight
* lump or sore in the back of the throat, neck or mouth
By: Somer Flaherty – healthtree.com