# Oropharyngeal Cancer --- **Oropharyngeal cancer** is a [[cancer]] of the [[mouth]] and [[pharynx|throat]]. It is usually a squamous cell carcinoma and can occur in any part of the mouth and throat, and is typically curable if caught early. The HPV vaccine reduces the rates of contracting oralpharyngeal cancer. ## Risk Factors - Tobacco [[smoking]] - has a 30 fold increase in incidence of this type of cancer - Excessive use of alcohol - History of [[HPV]] - History of previous head and neck cancer - Males ## Signs & Symptoms There are often no signs or symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer until the late stages. You may see things such as: - painless sores that bleed easily - indurated ulcers with raised edges - [[xerostomia]] if the cancer or the treatement of the cancer effects the saliva glands In the late stages you might see: - tenderness - trouble swallowing, chewing or speaking - blood-tinged sputum - enlarged [[lymph node|lymph nodes]] ## Diagnostic Tests • Palpate throat/lymph nodes • Biopsy of lesions ## Treatment Treatment for oropharyngeal cancer is not comfortable--it totally sucks. The treatment depends on the location of the cancer. - **lips** may have a resection or radiation - **tongue** may do radiation, chemo, or even a glossectomy - If it has metastasized to the neck they may have to do a **neck dissection surgery** - the best case scenario is they can stay on oral nutrition, but if not they may have to do [[tube feeding]] or [[TPN]] - may need a tracheotomy - [[lung sounds|stridor]] post op is an emergency! - a **chyle leak** is a post op complication, check the [[surgical drain]] - this is when the lymph nodes lead a milky fluid into the surrounding tissues - it's rare but serious ___