THROAT CANCER (112)

Subject Teacher: Ma’am Rachel E. Domingo

Student name: Perly B. Peter BSN-3B

Types of cancer found in the
THROAT CANCER
Squamous cell carcinoma, which means
the cancer develops in the squamous cells
that line the inside of the throat, is by far
the most common type of throat cancer.
 What is and throat cancer?
● Throat cancer is characterized by uncontrollable growth of
abnormal cells in the region of the throat, voice box, epiglottis,
tonsils or oropharynx..
● Throat cancer, on the other hand, typically refers to cancer that
occurs in the pharynx (the throat) or the larynx (the voice box).
Symptoms of Throat Cancer
Symptoms of Throat Cancer
● difficulty swallowing and speaking
● lump in the neck

● lose of weight

● shortness of breath

● persistent sore throat

● hoarseness
 Diagnostic of Throat Cancer
• Endoscopy
• Biopsy- Only a biopsy can determine whether a suspicious area is cancerous
• Imaging tests for staging
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Position emission tomography (PET) and CT
CT
Diagnostic of Throat Cancer
Laryngoscopy
Treatment and medications?
● Surgery
● Radiation therapy, sometimes combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation)
 Treatment and medications?
Therapies using medication:
● Chemotherapy
● Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
● Targeted therapy - uses drugs designed to "target" cancer cells
without affecting normal cells.
● Comprehensive dental treatment
● Immunotherapy drugs
 Treatment and medications?
Therapies using medication:
● Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)
 Treatment and medications?
Immunotherapy drugs may include:
● Pembrolizumab - A checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 pathway,
allowing the immune system to target cancer cells.
● Nivolumab - Another checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1 pathway.

Targeted therapy drug

● Cetuximab - A monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth
factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of cancer cells.
Treatment and medications?
Chemotherapy Drugs
● Cisplatin
● Carboplatin
● 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
● Paclitaxel (Taxol)
● Docetaxel (Taxotere)
● Hydroxyurea
 Treatment and medications?
Chemotherapy Drugs
-THROAT CANCER
A commonly used combination is carboplatin and 5-FU(5-fluorouracil)
Combining these drugs can lead to increased cytotoxicity, causing more damage to cancer
cells and making them more susceptible to cell death.

+
Treatment and medications?
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
Throat cancer

● Laryngectomy- Laryngectomy involves the removal of part or all of the larynx.

● Total laryngopharyngectomy- larynx and pharynx have been removed
● Pharyngectomy- Pharyngectomy involves the removal of part or all of the pharynx
● Neck dissection- (done to prevent the spread of cancer to neck lymph nodes)
● Cordectomy- to remove the affected vocal cord while preserving the larynx
● Thyroidectomy - surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
Throat cancer
● Laryngectomy- Laryngectomy involves the removal of part or all of the larynx.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?

PREOPERATIVE:
-Explain the surgical procedure including the potential risk.
-Ensure the patient understand the procedure and has
given or signed the informed consent for the surgery.
-Instruct the patient about fasting for 6 to 8 hours.
-Check the vital signs
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?

PREOPERATIVE:

-Ensure all preoperative tests and diagnostic procedures are

completed.

-Coordinate with healthcare providers, including surgeons,

anesthesiologists, and other nursing staff.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
POSTOPERATIVE:

- Check the vital signs

- Assist the patient in proper positioning(supine or lateral)

- Maintain a sterile environment to prevent infections.

- Perform wound dressing 1-2times daily

- Maintain good oral hygiene with prescribed or recommended

mouthwash, if provided.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
POSTOPERATIVE:

- Encourage the patient to eat soft foods or liquid diet initially to avoid
irritation to the surgical site.(via NGT)

- Monitor for infection such as increased redness, swelling, warmth from the
incision site.

- Gently wipe the stoma area with warm to remove any dried secretions
followed by 1% hydrocortisone ointment to prevent irritation.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
POSTOPERATIVE:

-Educate the patient to avoid smoking, tobacco, alcohol which

can delay healing and irritate the patient surgical site.
-After 1 month of surgery refer the patient to the speech
therapist.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
POSTOPERATIVE:
-A drain is removed when the output is very low, usually <30 mL per day.
-Normal color of the output is clear/light yellow or clear/light red
-Keep the drain pinned to clothing to prevent pulling and tugging at the skin.
-Keep the drain bulb compressed down so that it has negative pressure to
suck out the fluid from the surgical site.
-Measure and record the output twice a day in a journal/log. Bring that
journal/log to your clinic appointment.
 Surgery and nursing responsibilities?
Follow-up (Radiation treatment should begin within 6 weeks of surgery)
Vitamins or minerals (during or post radiotheraphy)
• Vitamin E, at high doses of 400IU/d, may be associated with
reduced survival or recurrent of the disease

• Zinc at doses of 25mg taken during or post (chemo)

radiotheraphy –may reduce side effects (mucositis, taste
changes.
Risk Factors for Throat Cancer
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol use
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
infectioncauses 60% of throat cancers
• Gender: Male
THANK YOU!
 References:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arizonabloodandcancerspeciali
sts.com%2Fwhat-is-
immunotherapy%2F&psig=AOvVaw1hy5cMsIxVspjJKZCiQs4M&ust=1699879217462000&so
urce=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCJi34tm9voIDFQAAAAAdAAAA
ABAE

https://www.pacehospital.com/oral-cancer-symptoms-causes-stages-risk-factors-
complications-prevention

https://www.slideshare.net/KalpanaKawan1/carboplatin

https://www.slideshare.net/mderami/laryngectomy-post-op

https://hospital.uillinois.edu/primary-and-specialty-care/otolaryngology/head-and-neck-cancer-
surgery/surgical-treatments/care-after-surgery-drains