While there is no certain tried and true way to avoid just about any type of disease, especially cancer, there are risk factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing the condition. Sometimes those risk factors cannot be changed, such as a person’s sex or a family history, but other times, the risk factors are areas that can be controlled, and thus reduce the risk of someone developing the condition.
When and if a person has high-risk factors that cannot be changed, such as a family history, it’s important to review the other factors that may compound that risk and take the necessary steps to reduce them and lower the risk of becoming ill.
If the disease progresses and requires surgery, in-home speech therapy can help with recovery.
Throat Cancer Risk Factors
Let’s start out by looking at the risk factors that are not changeable. If your elderly loved one already has some of these risk factors, it’s important to review the next list of risk factors that he might be able to affect by making lifestyle changes.
Non-changeable risk factors for Throat Cancer:
- Sex. Men are almost five times more likely to develop throat cancer.
- Age. Throat cancer is more common in the elderly. More than half of the patients who have or have had some type of throat cancer were diagnosed after the age of 65.
- Race. Non-hispanic white Americans and African Americans are at a great risk of developing throat cancer.
- Genetic Syndromes. Those who have syndromes caused by inherited gene defects ( known as mutations) have a much higher risk of throat cancer.
- Workplace Environment. If your loved one was previously employed in a workplace that had air pollution, their risk could be increased. Working in areas that contained a lot of wood dust, chemicals, or paint fumes could have damaged his throat and increased his risk of getting throat cancer in his later years.
Risk Factors for Throat Cancer That Can Be Reduced or Eliminated
If you and your elderly loved one look at that previous list and can check off two or more of the risk factors, you should work with your loved one to help him eliminate or reduce any other risk factors that could make the likelihood of throat cancer developing even higher.
- Smoking
- Drinking Large Amounts of Alcohol
- Being Overweight
- Having Poor Nutrition
Throat Cancer Recovery and In-Home Speech Therapy
If caught early enough, many throat cancers can be completely cured, but the road to recovery is often long and hard. Your loved one may need surgery and will find that many of the things he’s been used to doing and participating in during his life will change. One of the greatest changes can be his ability to speak, communicate, and even eat.
If surgery is recommended, talk to your loved one’s doctor about the possibility of him receiving speech therapy at home. With speech therapy done at home, your loved one can receive personalized care without having to worry about transportation to and from a clinic, as well as the risks of exposing themselves to other germs while they’re trying to recover.
A therapist who comes to the home for speech therapy can also work with your loved one in his personal living space to help him make the necessary adaptations to live well and fully after his cancer treatment.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Speech Therapy in Tamarac, FL, please contact the caring staff at Actify Home Care today at (954) 902-6049
Actify Home Care provides exceptional home and facility care for anyone in Broward County, including Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Sunrise, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Miramar, Florida, and surrounding areas.
We offer services all around the South Florida area, if you have questions for us or don’t see your area listed just ask, we’d be happy to help. Contact us today!
Sources:
- Transforming the Day-to-Day Lives of Seniors - January 26, 2026
- Signs Of Heart Disease Your Senior Parent May Be Ignoring - January 9, 2026
- Balancing Care and Self-Care with In-Home Respite Services - December 23, 2025
