Understanding Throat Cancer
- English media personality Amanda Holdens has announced that her beloved co-star Jamie Theakston is recovering well after his recent laryngeal cancer diagnosis. As he sees a speech therapist to work on getting his voice back, Holdens is looking forward to him hopefully returning to work in November 2024.
- Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer where cancerous cells begin in the throat, voice box or tonsils. Some of the main risk factors for this disease include smoking, drinking alcohol, a diet lacking in fruits or vegetables, acid reflux disease and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- The human papillomavirus, the sexually transmitted disease also known as HPV, causes a large number of head and neck cancers, about 70%. HPV can be passed between partners during oral sex.
- The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, can help prevent oral cancers, cervical cancer in women, and several other types of cancer.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain in a recent interview, Holdens shared her co-star’s health status just weeks after he went public with his diagnosis.
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She continued, “So we are keeping everything crossed that he’ll be with us, at least in November, I reckon, or for Christmas.”
What You Need to Know About Throat Cancer
When Theakston first revealed he had cancer, he told his radio listeners in a statement share on social media, “Hi Folks. As you know – I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords.
“The biopsy has identified this as stage 1 Laryngeal cancer. So – I have cancer – but cancer doesn’t have me. The prognosis is very positive and I’m hoping to be back with you in October.”
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Theakston’s statement concluded, “Until then I’ve been told to give my voice a rest and leave you in the mostly capable hands of JK and Amanda.
“Big thanks to them and all the Global family who have been unbelievably supportive. Be thankful for this day, and when I next see you, I’ve got a great story to tell.”
At the time, Theakston’s health news was greeted with an immense amount of support from fans, with one commenting on his Instagram post, “Wishing you a speedy recovery. My Husband was very late being diagnosed with this. Despite having his voicebox removed a year ago, he has not been able to beat this. Head & Neck Cancers are nasty and on the rise. Awareness of early symptoms needs to be raised.”
While others commenting, “Sending lots of love & hope all will be well soon,” and “If anyone can get through this it’s you. Sending all the positive vibes your way.”
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Prior to that announcement, Theakston admitted he was thankful to listeners for pointing out that his voice sound unusual leading up to his diagnosed.
He wrote in that post, “Sooo – a few of you listeners have noticed my voice hasn’t sounded right these past few weeks – I’ve got you to thank… got it checked – Doctors found a lesion on my vocal chords.”
Understanding Head and Neck Cancer
Cancer of the larynx, which is also considered throat cancer, falls under the umbrella of the general classification term head and neck cancer.
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), head and neck cancer is “a broad term encompassing a number of different malignant tumors that develop in or around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses and mouth. Oral cancer is the most common type of head and neck cancer.
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The two main risk factors for this group of diseases include the following:
- Tobacco use. This is the single largest risk factor for head and neck cancer with researchers estimating that 70 to 80 percent of head and neck cancers being linked to tobacco use. Also worthy of note is that secondhand smoke may increase a person’s risk of developing head and neck cancer.
- Alcohol use. Using alcohol and tobacco together increases your risk even more.
“Head and neck cancer patients, we know that tobacco smoking is a risk but also heavy alcohol use,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist specializing in head and neck cancer at Cleveland Clinic, previously told SurvivorNet.
“So, drinking more than two or three drinks if you’re a man per day, in addition to smoking. Smoking and alcohol are sort of additive carcinogens. Especially in cancer of the larynx or the voice box, we know that drinking heavily, heavy alcohol use, is just as important of a risk factor as tobacco smoking is.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, laryngeal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells develop in the tissues of the larynx. Additionally, signs and symptoms of this disease include sore throat, like Danielle Emery experienced, and ear pain.
Other symptoms of laryngeal cancer include:
- A cough that does not go away.
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing.
- A lump or mass in the neck or throat.
- Hoarseness, or some type of change, in the voice.
“The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea,” the cancer institute explains. “The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person’s voice.”
Diagnosing & Treating Laryngeal Cancer
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “The larynx cannot be seen by health care providers without special equipment. The larynx can be seen using a laryngeal mirror, or a fiberoptic telescope with a video camera.
“Cancer typically causes changes in the appearance of the mucosal lining or the symmetrical structures of the larynx that can be seen with these devices. It also may be detected using radiographic imaging including MRI, CT scan or ultrasound.”
When a suspicious lesion in the larynx is found, a biopsy is taken to confirm whether it is cancers.
“Because of the sensitivity of the larynx this must be done under general anesthesia in an operating room in most cases. At the same time, the surgeon can gather important information about the extent of the tumor by more thorough visualization and directly touching the tissues. A PET/CT scan or other imaging study may be done to assess the status of lymph nodes and possible spread,” Johns Hopkins explains.
Expert Resources on HPV-Related Cancers
- ‘Controversial’ HPV Vaccine Shown to be Highly Effective in Wiping Out Cervical Cancer
- Busting the Myths About the HPV Vaccine
- Don’t be Swayed by Myths: The HPV Vaccine is Completely Safe
- Should Adult Men be Given the HPV Vaccine to Prevent Cancer?
- The HPV Vaccine Gardasil Now Approved For Prevention of Head & Neck Cancers– As Cases Rise in Men
Treatment of this disease depends on the type of cancer, stage of the tumor, portions of the larynx involved with the tumor.
Treatment may include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
The HPV Vaccine
Although it’s unclear whether Theakston’s cancer was HPV-related, it’s important to understand that throat and oral cancers are unique in that they’re usually preventable with the HPV vaccine. And that’s why those eligible should get vaccinated against HPV, SurvivorNet experts say.
The vaccine is typically given to children before they are sexually active, as HPV is transmitted through sexual contact.
And contrary to some detrimental misinformation circulated online, the HPV vaccine is entirely safe.
There are virtually no side effects with this vaccine, Dr. Jonathan Berek, director of the Women’s Cancer Center at Stanford Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
Why the HPV Vaccine is so Important in Preventing Cancer
It is “incredibly safe,” he insisted. “It’s as safe as any vaccine has ever been. It’s highly-effective. It’s highly-predictive.”
Dr. Berek continued, “Some people say they’re concerned about it because they’re — they’ve called it a sex vaccine, that somehow it’s gonna encourage people to be sexually active. First of all, that’s not true. It’s, it’s an anti-cancer vaccine. And second of all, there are no data to support that contention.
“There are absolutely none. So it’s really based on fear, misinformation, disinformation … it’s not based on science or data. The science is very clear. It’s a highly-effective, safe vaccine, and should be promoted. And in those countries now where it has been promoted, we’re starting to see substantial reductions in the precancerous and early cancers of the cervix.”
HPV is responsible for 34,800 cases of cancer in the U.S. each year, but 90% of them can be prevented thanks to the HPV vaccine Gardasil.
RELATED: Should Children as Young as 9-Years-Old Get The HPV Vaccine?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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