Laryngeal cancer is a rare form of cancer in which the larynx or voice box develops malignant cells. Your voice may suffer from this type of cancer. If not treated right away, it could spread to other body parts. Laryngeal cancer is diagnosed and treated via examinations of the throat and neck. Laryngectomy surgery may be used as a treatment, which removes all or part of the larynx.
This article will discuss the laryngeal cancer causes, signs, and treatments for laryngeal cancer.
Larynx
The larynx is located in your throat, and it is also referred to as the voice box. The larynx aids in our ability to speak, breathe, and swallow. The vocal cords are a part of the larynx. Most of the larynx comprises cartilage, a flexible tissue that serves as structural support. Three sections make up the larynx:
- Supraglottis
- Glottis
- Subglottis
The location(s) implicated in laryngeal cancer influence symptoms and treatment to some level.
Laryngeal Cancer: What Is It?
Most larynx cancers, known as squamous cell carcinomas, start on the mucosal surface (SCC). Salivary gland cancers, which develop from the tiny salivary glands beneath the mucosa, and cancers of muscle, cartilage, or even other structural tissues (sarcomas) are much less common laryngeal cancers. Smoking is related to SCC of the larynx, though it’s less clear how much passive smoking and prior smoking cause. Some laryngeal cancer cases develop with no identified risk factors.
Causes
Generally, healthy cells get damaged and start overgrowing to cause throat cancer. Tumors can form from these cells. Tumors that begin in your vocal box are called laryngeal cancers. Smoking frequently causes mutations that harm the cells in your larynx. They might also result from the following:
- High alcohol consumption
- Inadequate nutrition
- Exposure to the human papillomavirus
- Immune system issues
- Exposure to toxins at work, such as asbestos
- A few genetic disorders, like Fanconi anemia
Symptoms
Early laryngeal cancer may have no symptoms at all. Hoarseness or coughing may result from small vocal cord growths, boosting the chances that glottic cancer will be discovered early. Referred ear pain is where early supraglottic cancer, located above the vocal cords, causes discomfort that may be worsened by swallowing.
Symptoms of basic to advanced laryngeal cancer include:
- Difficulty swallowing or discomfort
- Having trouble breathing
- Breathing loudly
- Extreme hoarseness
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
- Neck growth or a mass
Risk Factors
The risk of acquiring laryngeal cancer increases significantly if you smoke or use other tobacco products. The risk increases if you consume alcohol, especially large amounts of it.
The following are other laryngeal carcinoma risk factors:
Age: People above the age of 55 are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer.
Gender: This cancer affects more males than women because more men smoke and drink heavily than women.
Head and neck cancer history: People with head and neck cancer have a 25% chance of recurrence.
Job: People who work in environments where certain chemicals are present are more at risk. These include wood dust, nickel, asbestos, sulfuric acid mist, and mustard gas production. Additionally, more in danger are those who use machines for work.
Diagnose
Examining your symptoms and your personal and family history is the first step in making a laryngeal cancer diagnosis. A laryngoscopy is a procedure where the larynx is examined using a small set of mirrors or a telescope if cancer is detected. A biopsy is obtained and sent to the lab for additional analysis in the event of any anomalies.
Staging is the following procedure to determine how far cancer has gone if the results are positive. Laryngeal cancer is staged by oncologists using the TNM method, where T stands for the size of the original tumor, N is for the extent of lymph node involvement, and M is for the presence or absence of organ involvement.
Your doctor may suggest a CT scan, MRI scan, or PET scan, depending on the TNM staging. The healthcare professional can determine how much the disease has spread internally with the aid of these scans.
What Are The Options For Laryngeal Cancer Treatment?
Laryngeal cancer treatment implies:
Radiation therapy: To kill cancer cells, radiation oncologists use high-energy radiation beams. To protect the surrounding healthy tissue, the radiation exclusively targets the tumor.
Chemotherapy: Medical oncologists utilize medications to eliminate or stop the spread of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: In order to fight cancer, this laryngeal cancer treatment makes use of your immune system, one of your body’s inherent defenses.
Surgery: Surgery can be used to remove the tumor and keep the larynx intact in cases of early laryngeal cancer. Surgeons frequently perform a laryngectomy, which involves removing the entire larynx, to treat advanced cancer.
You might receive multiple treatments. After surgery, for example, people may receive chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy to eliminate any leftover cancer cells.
In Conclusion
Starting treatment as soon as possible is essential for the successful cure of laryngeal cancer. When cancer has not gone to your lymph nodes or metastasis, the chances of survival are significantly higher. The best method to prevent larynx cancer is to refrain from smoking and excessive drinking.
