Laryngeal cancer (patient information)
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What is laryngeal cancer?
The larynx which is often called the "voice box" is one of the organs responsible for speech. For laryngeal cancer about 60% start in the glottis , the remaining 40% develop either in the supraglottic region or in the subglottis or overlap more than one area. Many laryngeal cancers can be found early. Frequent symptoms include hoarseness or change in the voice, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the throat, bad cough or chest infection, etc. Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of them.
How do I know if I have laryngeal cancer and what are the symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
Early laryngeal cancer does not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows larger, people may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Hoarseness or change in the voice
- Difficulty swallowing
- A lump in the throat
- Bad cough or shortness of breath
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Weight loss
- Prolonged earache
Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell his/her doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.