What Are the Treatments for Tonsil Cancer?

Tonsil cancer refers to cancers that originate in the tonsils, the soft palate, the base of the tongue, or the posterior pharyngeal wall. Approximately 8,000 new cases of throat cancers, including tonsil cancers, are diagnosed annually. They occur more often in men than in women, and smokers develop tonsil cancer more often than non-smokers. Treatment generally includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy in some combination.

Surgery

• Surgery is used for cancers that are local to the tonsils or the tonsils and nearby lymph nodes. The tonsil may be removed, and if the cancer was very small, that may be sufficient to cure the cancer. In more advanced cases, lymph nodes may need to be removed or surgery may need to be accompanied by chemotherapy and radiation. Generally, a laser can be used to remove cancer through the mouth, but lymph node removal must be done by an incision in the neck.

Radiation

• Radiation involves the use of high-energy x-ray beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation can help to kill cancer cells that can't be removed by surgery, and can work in conjunction with chemotherapy. Radiation may also help to kill enough cancer cells to avoid radical surgery, with the associated complications of loss of speech and swallowing, and disfigurement.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is usually given intravenously for tonsil cancer, which means it is injected into a vein and travels through the blood. It can be used in conjunction with surgery and radiation to help to remove all cancer cells from the body, or to kill a sufficient amount of cancer cells to make successful surgery possible.

Reconstructive Surgery

• Depending on the extent of the surgery required to remove the cancer cells, reconstructive surgery may be required in the neck or throat. Reconstructive surgery, at the time of or following the initial procedure, can help preserve the normal use of the mouth as well as help maintain a normal physical appearance.

Rehabilitation

• Following surgery, speech therapy may be necessary to help a patient learn to speak normally again. Depending on the extent of the surgery, patients may also require surgery to assist in learning how to swallow, and they may require the aid to a dietitian to help identify a healthy and nutritious diet which they are able to eat with their limited mouth functionality.