Your larynx, a portion of your throat, is impacted by laryngeal cancer. Your larynx facilitates swallowing, breathing, and speaking. It has your vocal cords in it.
Uncontrolled cell growth in the larynx can result in cancer that affects the vocal cords or larynx. These malignant (cancerous) cells invade tissues and cause harm to your body as they grow.
Any of the three primary regions of the larynx can develop laryngeal cancer:
Supraglottis: This is the upper region; 35% of laryngeal cancers begin here.
Glottis: This region, which houses your vocal cords, is where more than half of laryngeal cancers (60%) begin.
Subglottis (lower part): Approximately 1 in 20 laryngeal cancers begin here, or 5% of cases.
Symptoms
The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer can be easily confused with those of other illnesses. It’s simple to confuse the most prevalent symptom, hoarseness that doesn’t go away after a few weeks, for a cold. Speak with a healthcare professional if you have any of the following symptoms so they can properly diagnose you:
- persistently sore throat or persistent cough.
- changes in voice that don’t go away after two weeks, like hoarseness.
- discomfort or other issues with swallowing.
- a lump in your throat or neck.
- difficulty producing vocal sounds (dysphonia).
- pain in the ears.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- breathing difficulties (dyspnea).
- breathing that is high-pitched and noisy (stridor).
- globus sensation, the sensation that something is lodged in your throat.
- spitting blood (hemoptysis) out.
Causes
Laryngeal cancer can result from specific types of HPV, or human papillomavirus, which is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
It is also far more likely to develop in those who smoke or drink alcohol regularly.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your medical history and symptoms will be inquired about by a healthcare professional. They will examine your neck and throat during a physical examination. You will most likely require additional testing to confirm a diagnosis after the initial examination.
Among the diagnostic tests are:
Imaging scans: A detailed image of your interior organs can be obtained with a CT or MRI scan. They are able to display the location and size of a tumour. An X-ray of the chest can reveal whether cancer has spread to the lungs.
Laryngoscopy: An endoscope, a thin, lighted tube, is used by a healthcare professional to examine your larynx during a laryngoscopy.
PET scan: A tiny, safe dose of a radioactive material is injected into your vein by a medical professional during a PET scan. The material draws attention to cancerous cell growths.
Biopsy: In a biopsy, a medical professional takes a tiny sample of abnormal tissue from your larynx for microscopic examination. A pathologist is a specialist who will examine the cells and search for specific protein markers. Certain cancer treatments are limited to targeting cancer cells that exhibit particular protein markers.
Treatment
Laryngeal cancer treatment entails:
Radiation therapy: To destroy cancer cells, radiation oncologists use high-energy radiation beams. To reduce harm to nearby healthy tissue, the radiation only targets the tumour.
Chemotherapy: Drugs are used by medical oncologists to either destroy or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is frequently administered intravenously (via a vein). An oncologist can assist you in managing the side effects of chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy: This treatment helps fight cancer by utilising your body’s natural defences, the immune system. Biologic therapy is another name for immunotherapy.
Targeted therapy: This medical intervention uses particular protein types to target cancer cells and stop them from proliferating.
Surgery can remove a tumour from early-stage laryngeal cancer while protecting your larynx and swallowing and speaking abilities. Surgeons frequently have to perform a laryngectomy, or removal of the entire larynx, in cases of advanced cancer.
There could be multiple treatments for you. For instance, following surgery, patients may receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy to eradicate any cancer cells that may still be present.
Prevention
Not all cancers can be prevented. However, by adopting these healthy habits, you can reduce your chance of getting cancer, including laryngeal cancer:
- Give up smoking and stay away from tobacco goods.
- Restrict your alcohol intake and seek help for your alcohol use disorder.
- Consume a balanced diet.
