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The larynx can be affected by laryngeal cancer, a kind of throat cancer. Your voice box is the larynx. It is made up of cartilage and muscles, which allow you to speak.
This type of cancer has the potential to harm your voice. It can spread to other parts of your body if not treated promptly.
Head and neck cancers account for 4% of all malignancies in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Survival rates for this cancer are determined by where it is found and how quickly it is detected.
According to the American Cancer Society, 90% of persons with stage 1 glottis cancer survive for five years or more. The glottis is the section of the larynx that houses your voice cords.
In comparison, 59% of persons with stage 1 cancer of the structures above the glottis, or supraglottis, live for five years or longer. The epiglottis, which closes down your larynx as you swallow, is housed in the supraglottis. It prevents food from getting into your lungs.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LARYNGEAL CANCER?
It is common to confuse symptoms of laryngeal cancer with those of other diseases. If you have any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis:
- A persistent sore throat or cough.
- Changes in voice, such as hoarseness, that do not improve after two weeks.
- When you swallow, you may have pain or other complications.
- A lump in the throat or neck.
- Dysphonia (the inability to produce vocal sounds).
- Ear pain.
If you have any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention straight away:
- Breathing difficulties (dyspnea).
- Stridor, characterized by loud, high-pitched breathing.
- Globus sensation, the sensation that something is stuck in your throat.
- coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
What variables contribute to the development of laryngeal cancer?
Smoking or using other tobacco products raises your risk of acquiring laryngeal cancer significantly. Drinking alcohol, particularly a lot of it, increases your risk. Using alcohol and smoke together raises the danger even further.
Other risk factors for laryngeal carcinoma are as follows:
- Age: People aged 55 and older are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer.
- Gender: Men are more likely than women to acquire this cancer, presumably because men smoke and drink more heavily.
- Head and neck cancer history: About one in every four (25%) people who have had head and neck cancer will get it again.
- Job: People who are exposed to specific drugs on the job are at a higher risk. Sulfuric acid mist, wood dust, nickel, asbestos, and producing mustard gas are examples of these substances. People who work with machines are also more vulnerable.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LARYNGEAL CANCER?
The cause of laryngeal cancer is unknown to researchers. However, if you have risk factors like as smoking or drinking alcohol, you have a considerably increased chance of acquiring laryngeal cancer.
HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually transmitted illness, can cause laryngeal cancer in some people.
HOW EXACTLY IS LARYNGEAL CANCER DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and medical history. They examine your throat and neck during the physical exam. Following the initial checkup, you will almost certainly require additional testing to confirm a diagnosis.
What other tests aid in the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer?
Among the other diagnostic tests are:
- Imaging scans: CT or MRI scans provide detailed images of the body. A chest X-ray can reveal whether or not cancer has progressed to the lungs.
- Laryngoscopy: Your provider examines your larynx with a narrow, illuminated tube known as an endoscope.
- PET scan: During a PET scan, a small, safe dosage of a radioactive material is injected into your vein. The material draws attention to abnormalities. A PET scanning machine generates 3D images from the energy emitted by the material.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure in which your physician takes a small portion of any abnormal tissue in the larynx to evaluate under a microscope.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR LARYNGEAL CANCER?
Laryngeal cancer treatment consists of the following procedures:
- Radiation therapy: High-energy radiation beams are delivered by radiation oncologists to eliminate cancer cells. To limit damage to surrounding healthy tissue, the radiation solely targets the tumor.
- Chemotherapy: This is a treatment in which medical oncologists employ drugs to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is frequently administered intravenously (through a vein). During therapy, chemo might induce negative effects.
- Immunotherapy: This treatment employs your immune system, your body's natural defenses, to assist in the battle against cancer. Immunotherapy is often referred to as biologic therapy.
- Surgery: In the case of early laryngeal cancer, surgery can remove the tumor while leaving the larynx intact (and the ability to speak and swallow). In the case of severe malignancy, doctors may need to perform a laryngectomy, which involves removing the entire larynx.
You could be receiving more than one treatment. After surgery, for example, people may receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy to eradicate any leftover cancer cells.
What kind of laryngeal surgery procedures are available?
Surgery removes cancer: The goal of laryngeal cancer surgery is to remove the tumor while preserving your ability to speak and swallow. Part or all of the larynx may need to be removed by the surgeon. Surgical techniques include the following:
Cordectomy: The surgical removal of a portion or all of a vocal cord, generally through the mouth.
Supraglottic laryngectomy: Removes the supraglottis via the neck or the mouth.
Hemilaryngectomy: This procedure removes half of the larynx, maintaining your voice.
Partial laryngectomy: This procedure removes a portion of the larynx while preserving your capacity to speak.
Total laryngectomy: The entire larynx is removed through the neck.
Thyroidectomy: The removal of all or a portion of the thyroid gland.
Laser surgery: A bloodless operation that uses a laser beam to remove a tumor.
TAKING CARE OF DAMAGE TO YOUR VOICE BOX
During surgery, you may lose some or all of your voice box. This does not, however, imply that you will no longer be able to speak. Speech therapy can assist you in learning new methods of communicating.
If your doctor removes your entire voice box, further surgeries may be able to restore your voice. Your voice will no longer sound the same. Most patients, however, can restore some capacity to speak through a variety of methods.
A therapist will teach you how to swallow air and send it back up through your mouth using esophageal speaking.
A tracheoesophageal puncture facilitates the passage of air from the lungs to the mouth. Your doctor will use a stoma to link your windpipe and food pipe. They will next insert a valve at the front of your throat. Talking is made easier by covering the valve with your finger.
An electrolarynx is a mechanical voice generator that is powered by electricity.
HOW CAN I AVOID DEVELOPING LARYNGEAL CANCER?
You can minimize your chance of laryngeal cancer by making the following lifestyle changes:
- Reduce or eliminate your usage of tobacco in all forms if you smoke.
- If you must consume alcohol, do it in moderation.
- If you are exposed to asbestos or other toxins at work, make sure you have the necessary protective equipment.
- Consume a healthy diet that includes antioxidant-rich foods.
HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOLLOWING A LARYNGECTOMY
Healthcare providers employ three approaches to assist people learn to talk again after having a laryngectomy:
- Esophageal speech: You force air into the esophagus, the tube that transports food and drink to the stomach. When you expel air, it goes through your throat. You speak using the vibration it produces. For effective treatment of esophageal speech, rigorous therapy is required.
- Artificial larynx (electrolarynx): To make sound, you hold this electronic gadget against your neck or cheek or place it in your mouth. The device generates a vibration that can be used to speak. It does not necessitate surgery, and you can begin speaking immediately. However, the speech may sound robotic. A speech pathologist teaches you how to utilize it.
- Tracheoesophageal puncture: A hole is made in your throat between your esophagus and trachea by your surgeon. In the hole, they insert a prosthesis with a one-way valve. When air goes through the valve, it opens. You force air into your throat from your lungs. When air enters your esophagus, it causes vibrations that allow you to talk. The prosthesis must be maintained and replaced on a regular basis. However, it results in a smoother voice.
CONCLUSION
Laryngeal cancer develops when cells in your larynx, or voice box, proliferate uncontrollably. Avoiding cigarettes and restricting alcohol consumption can help you avoid several types of laryngeal cancer. Consult your healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing laryngeal cancer symptoms such as hoarseness or other vocal changes, a persistent cough, or difficulty swallowing. The goal of treatment is to eradicate the cancer while keeping your capacity to speak, breathe, and eat. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery to remove all or part of the larynx are all options for treatment.