Description

The soft palate cancer is cancer that begins as a growth of the cells in the soft palate. The soft palate is located in the upper part of the back of the mouth, behind the teeth.

The soft palate cancer often begins in the thin, flat cells that line the inside of the mouth and throat, called squamous cells. When the cancer begins in the cells is called squamous cell carcinoma.

The soft palate cancer can cause changes in the appearance and the feel of the tissues in the soft palate. These changes may include a lump or a sore that does not heal.

Soft palate cancer is considered a type of throat cancer. It is treated similarly to the way in which other types of throat cancers are treated. This may include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of the soft palate cancer may include the following:

  • Bleeding in the mouth.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Difficulty speaking.
  • The bad breath.
  • Pain in the mouth.
  • Sores in the mouth that does not heal.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Pain when swallowing.
  • The loss of weight.
  • The ear pain.
  • A swelling in the neck, which may be painful.
  • White patches in the mouth that does not go away.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

The soft palate cancer occurs when the cells in the soft palate develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes that are given different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

It's not always clear what causes the changes in the DNA that carry the veil of the palate cancer. For some soft palate types of cancer, human papilloma virus is the thought of having a party. HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. For most people, HPV does not cause any problem. For others, it causes changes in the cells that could one day lead to cancer.

Risk factors

Things that may increase the risk of soft palate cancer include:

The use of tobacco

All forms of tobacco increase the risk of soft palate cancer. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff.

Drinking alcohol

Frequent and excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of soft palate cancer. The use of alcohol and tobacco increases the risk even more.

Be exposed to the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV

HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. For most people, it causes no problems and goes away on its own. For others, it causes changes in the cells that can lead to many types of cancer, including the soft palate cancer.

Having a weakened immune system

If the body's germ-fighting immune system is weakened by medications or disease, there may be an increased risk of soft palate cancer. People with a weakened immune system include those who take medications to control the immune system, such as after an organ transplant. Certain medical conditions, such as infection with HIV , can also weaken the immune system.

Prevention

Ways to reduce the risk of soft palate cancer include:

Do not use tobacco

If you don't smoke, don't start. If you currently use tobacco of any kind, talk to a health professional about strategies to help you quit smoking.

Limit the consumption of alcohol

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.

Ask about the HPV vaccine

To receive a vaccine to prevent HPV infection may reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers, such as the soft palate cancer. Ask your doctor or other health care professional if an HIV vaccine is appropriate for you.

Have regular health and dental exams

During your appointments, your dentist, doctor or other health care professional can check your mouth for signs of cancer and pre-cancerous changes.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose the soft palate cancer include:

The examination of the mouth and neck

A health care professional uses a mirror or a tiny camera to get a closer look at the soft palate. The health professional looking for lumps, sores, or other signs of cancer in the mouth and throat. The health care professional may also feel the neck of the presence of swollen lymph nodes. When the veil of the palate, the cancer spreads, it often goes to the lymph nodes in the first place.

Removing a sample of tissue for testing

It is called a biopsy, this test involves taking a sample of cells from the mouth. There are different types of biopsies. An example can be collected by cutting a piece of the suspicious tissue or of the entire area. Another type of biopsy uses a thin needle that is inserted directly into the suspicious area and collects a sample of cells.

The samples are sent to a lab for analysis. In the laboratory, the tests can show whether the cells are cancerous. Other tests give more information on the cancer cells, as if they show signs of HPV .

Imaging tests

Imaging tests, capturing images of the body. The pictures can show the size and location of the cancer. Imaging tests are used to the soft palate cancer may include:

  • X-ray.
  • CT .
  • The magnetic resonance imaging .
  • Positron emission tomography, also called PET.

Treatment

Treatment for the soft palate cancer often includes surgery followed by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Your health care team takes into account many factors when creating a treatment plan. These can include cancer of the location and how fast it is growing. The team can also see if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body and the results of the tests on the cancer cells. Your health care team also takes into account your age and your overall health.

The surgery to remove the cancer

During the surgery of the soft palate cancer, the surgeon removes the cancer and some healthy tissue around it. This ensures that all the cancer cells are removed.

Sometimes the surgery causes problems with speech and swallowing. Physical therapy and other rehabilitation services can help you deal with these changes.

The surgery to remove the lymph nodes in the neck

When the veil of the palate, the cancer spreads, it often goes to the lymph nodes in the neck of the first. If there are signs that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, you may need surgery to remove some of the lymph nodes, called a neck dissection. Even if there are no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes, you may have some of them removed as a precautionary measure. Removal of the lymph nodes removes the cancer and helps your health care team to decide if you need other treatments.

To reach the lymph nodes, the surgeon makes a cut in the neck and removes the lymph nodes through the opening. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If cancer is found in lymph nodes, the other treatment may be necessary to remove the cancer cells that are left. The options may include radiation or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

Sometimes it is possible to delete only a couple of lymph nodes for testing. This is called a sentinel lymph node biopsy. It is the removal of the lymph nodes to which cancer is more likely to spread. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If there is no cancer detected, it is likely that the cancer has not spread. The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not an option for everyone with the soft palate cancer. It is only used in certain situations.

Reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery can be used by people who had parts of your face, jaw, or neck, carried out during the surgery. Healthy bone or tissue may be taken from other parts of the body and is used to fill in the gaps. This tissue may replace part of the lips, tongue, palate and jaw, face, throat or skin. Reconstructive surgery is sometimes done at the same time as the surgery to remove the cancer. This can depend on the size and location of the cancer.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, a machine directs the rays of energy to specific points on the body to kill cancer cells.

The radiation may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain. Sometimes the radiation is carried out at the same time as chemotherapy. If you can't have the surgery or do not want surgery, radiation may be used in its place.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery to kill any remaining cells. Sometimes chemotherapy is performed at the same time as radiation therapy, because it causes the radiation work better.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Targeted therapy is used to treat soft palate cancer that spreads to other parts of the body or comes back after treatment.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is treatment with medicines that help your body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. Your immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in your body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy can be used when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body and other treatments have not helped.

Therapy to help with recovery

Advanced treatment for the soft palate cancer can affect your ability to speak and eat. Working with an expert team of rehabilitation can help you deal with the changes that the result of treatment for cancer.

Coping and support

The people who are facing a serious illness, often say that they feel concerned about the future. With time, you will find ways to cope with the feelings caused by a cancer diagnosis. Until you find what works for you, you can find solace in these strategies:

Ask questions on the soft palate cancer

Write down questions you have about your cancer. Ask these questions at your next appointment. Also ask your health care team by reliable sources where you can get more information.

To know more about cancer and their treatment options can help you feel more confident in making decisions about your care.

Stay connected with friends and family

You can find comfort in the support of a group that cares for your family and friends.

Your cancer diagnosis can be stressful for friends and family also. Try to keep your involvement in your life.

Your friends and family will probably ask if there is anything I can do to help you. Think about the tasks that you would like to help, such as taking care of your house if you have to stay in the hospital, or simply listen to when you want to talk.

Find someone to talk to

Find someone to talk to, who has experience in helping people facing a life-threatening illness. Ask your health care team to suggest a counselor or a medical social worker can talk. You may find it helpful to talk with other cancer survivors through support groups. In contact with the American Cancer Society or ask your health care team about local or online support groups.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

If you have the soft palate cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the face, mouth, teeth, jaws, salivary glands and neck. This doctor is called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. You may also be referred to a doctor that specializes in diseases that affect the ears, nose, and throat. This doctor is called an OTOLARYNGOLOGIST or an ent.

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Your time with your health care team is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of their time together. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For the soft palate cancer, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the stage of my cancer?
  • What other tests do I need?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • There is a treatment that is best for my type and stage of the cancer?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • Should I seek a second opinion? Can you give Me the names of the experts recommend?
  • Am I eligible for the clinical trials?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What is going to determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

What to expect from your doctor

You will probably be asked a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may allow time later to cover the points you want to address. You may ask:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of cancer of the Soft palate