Difficulties in the rapid diagnosis of patients with head and neck cancer



[ad_1]

Mexico.- Six out of ten patients with head and neck cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage because of the few symptoms they present and how confused they are.

"Unfortunately, two-thirds of people are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease," said Miguel Ángel Álvarez Avitia, an oncologist at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico.

According to the WHO, the head and neck are the seventh most common type of cancer and cause about 300,000 deaths a year, according to EFE.

The specialist explained that among the main risk factors she suffers from alcohol, tobacco and human papilloma virus (HPV).

"Until a few years ago, it was thought that it was produced twice as much in men as in women, but the consumption of alcohol and tobacco increased." women, in addition to the relationship with HPV, so we can say that the prevalence is now the same in men and women, "said the doctor.

The specialist explained that this disease comes from the squamous cells that line the wet and mucous surfaces inside the head and neck.

It usually occurs inside the mouth, larynx, pharynx and to a lesser extent and the salivary glands, although its early stage does not cause many symptoms. The specialist explained that patients experience pain when they eat, that they have breathing problems, that they talk, that they suffer from dysphonia and that they are breathless.

"The problem is that as many patients are chronic smokers, when they have hoarseness, they think it's smoking and it's not like that," said Álvarez Aviia [19659008] "First-level doctors, in the initial assessment, they minimize the symptoms Sometimes patients go to the dentists and not to the specialists who can give them an adequate diagnosis," said Álvarez. [19659008] On July 27, World Cancer Day was celebrated in order to attract worldwide attention and raise awareness about this disease, for which the specialist emphasized the importance of. educate people to avoid alcohol and tobacco use as a first step in its prevention.

[ad_2]
Source link