Published Sep 13, 2024

Hoarse Voice Dismissed As Chronic Acid Reflux, But Docs Later Discovered a Mass In The Voice Box— It Was Throat Cancer

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Advocating for Your Health & Understanding Smoking Risks

An Ohio-based man’s voice hoarseness was initially dismissed as chronic acid reflux, but he was later diagnosed with throat cancer. He was a life-long smoker who often suffered from heartburn and acid reflux. Now, cancer-free, he’s urging others about the dangers of smoking and symptoms of throat cancer.
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer where cancerous cells begin in the throat, voice box or tonsils. It is an HPV-related cancer. One of the the easiest ways to reduce the risk of your children developing the disease is to make sure they get the HPV vaccine, particularly between ages 9 and 12.
Signs of throat cancer may include a sore throat, pain with swallowing, difficulty swallowing, and the sensation of a lump or mass in the throat.
Smoking is linked to multiple kinds of cancers, including throat cancer, and it can also effect cancer survival. One of our experts says that, “we know that there is a causal relationship between smoking and both incidents of cancer and the chance of dying from cancer.”

Dr. Patricia Varacallo, a doctor of osteopathic medicine DO, recently shared a story about one of her patients— a man named Roy whose voice hoarseness was initially dismissed as chronic acid reflux, but he was later diagnosed with throat cancer.

Roy, a life-long smoker who often suffered from heartburn and acid reflux, told Dr. Varacallo his story in hopes he could show others “how easily the symptoms of throat cancer can be mistaken for less serious conditions.”

He explained, as reported by The Healthy, “For decades, I’ve battled with persistent heartburn and acid reflux, alongside relentless sinus issues such as post-nasal drip, sore throat and a barrage of seasonal allergies. Being a lifelong smoker didn’t help matters.

“In October 2016, something new emerged: A raspy quality in my voice. My wife picked up on it right away, and while I brushed it off as the onset of a common sore throat, especially with Ohio’s chill setting in, it stubbornly lingered and worsened over the following weeks.”

What You Need to Know About Throat Cancer

Once he realized he didn’t just have a regular cold that would pass, he went for a checkup at his family practitioner who “attributing the hoarseness to my chronic acid reflux, and treated it as such.”

He explained further, “However, as weeks turned into two months with no improvement, my concerns, and those of my doctor, grew. Eventually, he referred me to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT doctor). It was a decision that would set me on a path to confronting a diagnosis I hadn’t anticipated: Throat cancer.”

The ENT doctor ultimately found an abnormal mass on his voice box and took a biopsy to decipher whether it was cancerous or not.

“Fortunately, the ensuing PET/CT scan showed that the cancer was localized to the voice box alone,” he added, noting preserving his voice was a goal amid treatment.

“My treatment regimen consisted of seven weeks of combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I underwent radiation treatments five days a week and received chemotherapy once a week,” he explained.

“I learned the importance of precision in radiation therapy—the doctor made sure it targeted the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue, which was crucial for maintaining my voice quality.”

Thankfully, his treatment was successful and he has since been declared “cancer-free.”

He concluded, “This journey has changed how I value my voice and communication ability. Even though my voice isn’t quite the same, I treasure it more than ever and don’t take it for granted.

“I also stopped smoking, and while I know quitting cold turkey isn’t feasible for everyone, I urge anyone struggling with smoking to talk to their doctor about quitting strategies. That’s the most important advice I could offer to anyone reading this.”

Understanding Throat Cancer

Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer where cancerous cells begin in the throat, voice box or tonsils. Some of the main risk factors for this disease include smoking, drinking alcohol, a diet lacking in fruits or vegetables, acid reflux disease and the human papillomavirus (HPV).

So, one way to decrease the chances of developing the disease is to get the HPV vaccine.

Adding His Voice to the Chorus — Artist and Throat Cancer Survivor Michael Rees Gets Behind HPV Vaccine Awareness

The American Cancer Society recommends that boys and girls get the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 12. The organization also stresses that teens and young adults through age 26 who are not already vaccinated should get the HPV vaccine as soon as possible.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, “About 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. Vaccinating all 11–12-year-olds can protect them long before they are ever exposed. CDC recommends two doses of HPV vaccine for all adolescents at age 11 or 12 years.”

Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, explains the link between throat cancer and HPV in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.

Get the Facts: HPV Can Cause Cancer In Men Too

“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears. And there are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the (HPV) virus,” Dr. Geiger said.

“However, there is no concern that you’re going to spread this cancer to your partner or to anyone else, because at this point your partner has already been exposed to the virus and likely cleared it.”

There’s no yearly screening for throat cancer, so doctors often discover the disease when a patient sees them with symptoms that may point to it. Some symptoms include:

A cough
Changes in your voice
Difficulty swallowing
Ear pain
A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
A sore throat
Weight loss

It’s important to note, however, that these symptoms are not exclusive to throat cancer. Still, you should always see a doctor if you have any changes to your health.

Advice for Quitting Smoking

Another way to decrease your risk of developing throat cancer, as well as other types of cancer, is to quit smoking.

“We know that there is a causal relationship between smoking and both incidents of cancer and the chance of dying from cancer,” Dr. Andrea Tufano-Sugarman of NYU Langone Health previously told SurvivorNet. “And there are very few things in science that have a cause and effect relationship, but this is one of them, which is very powerful.”

That being said, we have seen a concerning development in smoking rates in recent years. In fact, a recent report revealed that annual cigarette sales went up for the first time in 20 years in 2020. This is an issue because, as we’ve said before, smoking is linked to multiple kinds of cancers, like throat cancer, but it can also effect cancer survival.

Dr. Tufano-Sugarman often counsels cancer patients who are trying to quit smoking, which, she says, is similar to counseling other smokers.

When Dr. Tufano-Sugarman works with people with cancer, counseling is often paired with nicotine replacement therapy. She typically prescribes a daily nicotine patch to manage withdrawal symptoms, as well as a fast-acting option to curb cravings like a nicotine gum, inhaler, or spray.

Her main message for people trying to quit smoking is that the process is not always linear.

“There’s going to be slip-ups and relapses,” she said. “But above all, it’s never too late to stop.”

Strategies for Managing Tobacco Cravings:

Nicotine replacement therapy. As Dr. Tufano-Sugarman discussed, nicotine replacement therapy is one of the main tools that smokers have at their disposal. Long-acting therapies like nicotine patches can be paired with short acting therapies (including nicotine gum, lozenges, nasal spray, and inhalers) to cope with intense cravings. More research will be needed to gauge the effectiveness of other smoking substitutes like e-cigarettes and vapes.
Steer clear of triggers. Cravings can be provoked by situations that you are used to having tobacco in. It can help to familiarize yourself with these environments and make plans for how you can manage them without tobacco or how you can avoid them completely.
Wait. If you feel yourself on the brink of giving in to a tobacco craving, delay smoking for 10 minutes and do something else to distract yourself. Move to a no-smoking area to make it less convenient for you to smoke. Cravings can often subside if given time.
Chew something. Whether it’s gum, candy, or vegetables, chew something that will occupy your mouth as you resist your cravings.
Don’t give in to the “just one more” mentality. Smoking once just leads to smoking again. Be careful not to convince yourself that you can satisfy a tobacco craving and then quit after that.
Exercise more. Boosting your physical activity can distract you from tobacco cravings and also make them less intense. Exercise can mean a lot of different things, even short periods of physical activity can help tobacco cravings go away.
Try relaxation techniques. Finding new ways of dealing with stress can be an important part of quitting smoking. Techniques like deep-breathing, yoga, visualization, muscle relaxation, and massage can open new doors for the way you relate to stress and smoking.
Reach out for support. Establishing strong support systems is essential both for people battling cancer and people battling tobacco addiction. Calling a friend or family member to talk on the phone or go for a walk can help remind you that you’re not in this alone.

Research other resources. The Mayo Clinic recommends a free telephone line 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) for support and counseling. Additionally, there are online support groups for smokers trying to quit, and blogs where people write about how they manage the same challenges you are facing.
Remind yourself why you want to quit. Whether your goal is to feel better, get healthier, save money, or prepare for cancer treatment, it can help to write down or speak aloud the reason you decided to quit in the first place.