Tonsil cancer is usually treatable. It can often be cured without surgery, with the help of radiation therapy alone. The success of surgical treatment even at stage 3 is high. The five-year survival rate of such patients reaches 80%, while with additional radiation therapy and chemotherapy it can reach 90%. At the 4 stage of tonsil cancer, the combination of surgical, radiation method and chemotherapy gives a five-year survival rate for 70% of patients.
Tonsil cancer is development of the malignant neoplasm from the tonsil tissues. Treatment options in Germany include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Early tonsil cancer is cured with the help of surgery or irradiation. In advanced stages, radiation therapy joins the therapeutic scheme. Targeted and immunotherapy cancer drugs can also be used.
In this case the scheme depends on the size of the tumor, previous treatments, patient's general health, etc. It may incude irradiation, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy.
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life. It includes managing pain, nutrition and breathing problems, as well as mental support.
Treatment of tonsil cancer in Germany with Booking Health includes access to novel surgeries, the latest medicines and advanced equipment. The average cost of tonsillectomy is 13,200 EUR, the minimum price is 10,800 EUR, and the maximum price is 17,400 EUR.
Stage-adjusted treatment
In Germany, doctors can successfully treat tonsil cancer. After the conducted treatment, a person can normally eat and talk. Even cancer recurrence has good chances for successful treatment. After T3 tumor relapse, repeated surgery allows for achieving a five-year control of the tumor in 82% of cases, while after T4 tumor relapse this indicator accounts for 68% of cases. Taking into account all stages, the total five-year relapse-free survival of patients exceeds 90%.
Stage 0
The doctor removes the tonsil. In this case, the patient requires no further additional treatment. However, the patient is being monitored. Radiation therapy may be another treatment option.
Stage 1 or 2
There are two treatment options:
- Radiation therapy
- Surgical procedure to remove tonsils
For many patients, radiation therapy is preferable. Cancer mostly develops in the area of the tonsils. Therefore, it can spread to the root of the tongue. Radiation therapy provides a better functional effect compared to surgery. In this case, the risk of relapse is higher.
However, the treatment of a recurrent tonsil tumor is effective as well. Therefore, doctors often carry out radiation therapy. If relapse occurs, a surgical procedure is performed. Moreover, the five-year relapse-free survival of patients remains at the level of 88%, which is comparable with the treatment approach, in which the operation becomes the first treatment method.
Stage 2 tonsil cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, and therefore surgical treatment with lymph node dissection is more effective.
Stage 3 or 4A
The treatment often begins with radiation, which is combined with chemotherapy. These therapeutic procedures are followed by the assessment of results. If the tumor has completely disappeared, the patient will be further monitored. Should there be detected any foci of tumor tissue, they will be removed surgically. At the same time, the cervical lymph nodes are resected as well.
The surgical procedure should be followed by repeated irradiation and chemotherapy. This reduces the risk of relapse.
An alternative treatment regimen for patients with stage 3 or 4A tonsil cancer includes:
- Course of chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy and radiation.
- Surgical procedure.
- Monitoring.
This scheme is less common.
Stage 4B or 4C
These stages include high grade tumors of the tonsils, which are not associated with the papillomavirus and spread to other organs, including the lungs. The doctors can use chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Radiation therapy can be used as a palliative method to relieve symptoms of tonsil cancer.
Tonsil cancer relapse
Tonsil cancer may recur after treatment. The relapse is considered local if it appeared in the same place or a tumor developed from the cervical lymph node. If it occurs in another area of the body, it can be distant.
Tonsil cancer mostly recurs after radiation therapy. In this case, the disease is treated surgically. The doctors get the same results as if the tumor was originally removed by surgery. Brachytherapy is less commonly used. It can be used, if the operation is contraindicated to the patient. Brachytherapy involves the introduction of radioactive seeds into the tumor focus.
If a relapse occurs from the lymph node, it requires surgical removal. The surgery is followed by a course of radiation therapy.
If the cancer recurred after the surgical treatment of a malignant tumor of the tonsils, then further treatment involves:
- Repeated surgical procedure
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or a combination of these methods
If cancer gives a late relapse, the doctors usually do not perform surgery. They can use chemotherapy or targeted therapy, less often immunotherapy becomes an option of choice. Cancer cannot be completely cured. Nonetheless, such treatment can increase a person’s life expectancy and relieve symptoms.
Palliative care
In advanced tonsil cancer, the tumor spreads to neighboring organs. It often penetrates trachea or esophagus. In this case, the person cannot breathe or eat. Surgery is required to restore these functions.
Surgical palliative treatment:
Tracheostomy. The doctor makes a hole on the front of the neck and inserts a tube into it. A person can breathe through it. A short-term tracheostomy is performed after a radical operation to remove the tumor. It is required, if severe swelling of the throat prevents a person from breathing through the natural airways. However, as a palliative measure, the patient requires a permanent tracheostomy.
Gastrostomy. The operation is mostly performed endoscopically: the tube is initially placed in the stomach through the mouth, and then removed to the stomach through the wall of the stomach, muscle tissue and skin. If the esophagus is blocked by a tumor, the liquid food can be injected through this tube directly into the stomach.
As part of palliative care, radiation therapy can be used to reduce the size of the tumor. In the terminal stage of tonsil cancer, the doctors prescribe opiates to relieve pain.
Treatment in Germany with the Booking Health company
You can undergo tonsil cancer treatment in the best clinics in the world. To do this, please book a program at an affordable cost through the Booking Health service. When choosing, you can be guided by such average prices:
- The cost of tonsillectomy for tonsil cancer ranges from 10,800 EUR and 17,400 EUR.
- The cost of tonsillectomy and cervical lymph nodes resection for tonsil cancer ranges from 12,800 EUR and 21,200 EUR.
The average price of rehabilitation after tonsil cancer treatment is 1,190 EUR per day, the minimum price is 1,041 EUR per day, and the maximum price is 1,553 EUR per day.
Booking Health will arrange this trip for you. You will get the following benefits:
- Selection of the best clinic for the most effective treatment for any stage of tonsil cancer. We will select a medical center that specializes in this disease and achieves outstanding results in its treatment.
- The discount on treatment is up to 50% due to the lack of overpricing and additional coefficients for foreign patients.
- Booking an appointment with a doctor on the most suitable dates for you.
- Preparation of a program for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer based on the previously performed tests.
- Establishment of communication directly with the attending physician.
- Monitoring of all stages of the tonsil cancer diagnostic program and treatment of this disease.
- Control of invoices, return of unspent funds.
- Buying and forwarding medicines.
- Organization of additional diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
- Communication with the clinic upon treatment completion.
The Booking Health company will provide you with top-class services. We will book a hotel and airline tickets for you, meet you at the airport, provide interpreting services, take you to the clinic by car, arrange a return transfer upon program completion.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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Sources:
National Library of Medicine
Healthline
Mayo Clinic
