Common age for throat cancer | Throat cancer (pharyngeal carcinoma)

Common age for throat cancer

It is difficult to define an exact range for the typical age for throat cancer. The range is very wide and the age peak lies between the 4th and 7th decade of life. Since throat cancer is mainly caused by exogenous pollutants, i.e. pollutants that are supplied from outside, it plays a major role whether nicotine or alcohol abuse is present. There are also forms of throat cancer that can occur earlier. However, these forms are usually triggered by an infection with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus).

What role does HPV play?

The human papilloma virus is mainly known for the fact that infection with the virus can cause cervical cancer. In the meantime, the infection can be prevented by vaccinating girls before their first sexual intercourse. In addition to cervical cancer, the virus can also cause other genital tumors, such as vaginal or penile carcinomas, but anal cancers are also possible.

The virus is mainly transmitted through sexual contacts. After infection, the virus survives in the mucous membrane of the genital organs. Through oral sex the viruses can also infect the oral cavity and thus cause various types of cancer. In addition to throat cancer, tongue cancer and cancer of the floor of the mouth are also possible.

Diagnosis

Limited alcohol and tobacco consumption is particularly helpful against the development of throat cancer. Even better, of course, is complete abstinence. Good oral hygiene and a healthy diet also have a positive effect. There is no vaccination against the viruses that can promote the development of throat cancer.

Epidemiology

Depending on where exactly the throat cancer is located, there are different frequencies. Gender also plays a role. It is obvious that it is mainly men in old age who are affected.

Due to the changing lifestyle of women, however, the number of affected women is increasing. The reason for this should be the changed smoking and drinking habits. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma causes about 0.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, whereby the affected persons are mostly men over the age of 60.

Oropharyngeal carcinoma, i.e. cancer of the throat in the region of the mouth, causes 0.5-2 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, whereby here again a significantly more frequent incidence is seen among men of advanced age. Pharyngeal cancer in the lower parts of the throat, thus a hypopharyngeal carcinoma, is the most frequent with 3.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Here, too, the male sex is more affected than the female sex.