ENT cancers: “if they last more than three weeks, certain symptoms should lead to consultation”

The French Society of Head and Neck Carcinology (SFCCF) as well as the French Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Face and Neck Surgery (SFORL) until April 5 will fuel an awareness campaign for ENT cancers.

“Facilitating and accelerating the diagnosis of throat cancers”

“The objective of the first national Rouge-Gorge awareness campaign is to facilitate and accelerate the diagnosis of throat cancers which unfortunately often takes place at late stages in patients whose profile has evolved,” first explains Professor Sylvain Morinière, President of the SFCCF.

“To do this, we also want to fill the lack of global information on these pathologies,” also specifies a press release sent to the editorial staff.

If they last more than three weeks, certain symptoms (pain in the tongue and throat, red or white spot in the mouth, hoarseness, painful swallowing, lump in the neck, blocked nose, discharge of blood from the nose, etc.) should lead you to go to your general practitioner for referral to an ENT or maxillofacial consultation. “This specialized consultation aims to carry out a complete examination of the upper aerodigestive tract (VADS). It must be organized quickly (within 15 days) and if possible directly by the general practitioner so as not to delay the implementation of the treatment”, specify the specialists.

What causes ENT cancers?

Throat cancers are also called “ENT (otolaryngeal) cancers”, “head and neck cancers” or “cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (VADS)”. They develop in the lips, mouth, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, sinuses or salivary glands.

“These cancers are mainly due to the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, but another cause is playing a growing role, particularly in cancer of the oropharynx (including the tonsils and the base of the tongue): these are virus of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family”, we learn by reading the elements of the communication campaign.

“The incidence of throat cancers has been increasing for several years in our country, particularly cases of HPV-induced cancers. This is a real public health problem that we must address”indicates in this regard Professor Vincent Couloignier, Secretary General of SFORL.

Throat cancers occur most often between the ages of 50 and 64, but some of them, such as HPV-induced oropharyngeal cancers, appear in younger patients who are in good general health and do not consume alcohol or tobacco. HPV-induced throat cancers affect both men and women and tend to be diagnosed in two age groups: 30 to 40 years and between 60 and 70 years.