Does throat cancer go down into your stomach and if so, what are the symptoms that go with it?
Dear Vicki,
Head and neck cancers account for about 5 to 10 percent of all malignancies
and includes tumors in several areas. I assume when you say throat cancer,
you mean that the hypopharnyx (the lower part of the throat) is involved.
If that is the case, it is likely that if the cancer spread, it would spread
to the lymph nodes in the neck region. Signs of metastasis include
difficulty swallowing, ear pain and enlarged lymph nodes. Some people,
however, experience no symptoms at all. If you are having stomach pain,
excessive bloating or cramping, or other faulty digestion symptoms, you may
need to be checked out my a gastroenterologist. This kind of doctor
specializes in diseases of the GI tract and can help you achieve optimal GI
function so that what you eat is absorbed and utilized properly. Please
feel free to contact Cancer Resource Center, 800 940-2822, if you would like
to talk to a nutritionist about any digestive concerns.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Kim Dalzell, PhD, RD, LD
Good morning,
I read this reply and wondered how long it takes for symtoms to manifest in ones mouth and or throat area. My mom had lip cancer removed last yr; she has been having problems with her new dentures for about eleven months, her dentist suggested she go to a doctor about five wks ago when she complained of constant pain in her ear, swelling of her tongue and pain in her lower jaw which she thought was because of her new dentures, she has shared with me that the swelling has been happening for about ten months but has increased over the last five weeks in her tongue making it hard to talk and eat; mom did go to a doctor; he put her on antibiotics for 21 days and now says he thinks it is time to send her for a biopsy; he thinks she has a tumor in the back of her throat; mom lives in Rochester, New York. Can you reccommend a medical facility for her to go to that is knowledgable in throat cancers? She is 71 this month, smoked most of her adult life; as a matter of fact she quit smoking five weeks ago and it seems as if her symptoms have quickly gotten worse.
Thank you in advance for any advise you can send to me.
Sincerely,
Michelle