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.
Who is at risk for laryngeal cancer?
Clinical data has suggested that the development of laryngeal cancer is related to several factors.
- Tobacco and alcohol
- Human papilloma virus (HPV): Human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause many cancers such as cervix cancer, vagina cancer, anus cancer, vulva cancer or penis cancer, besides laryngeal cancer .
- Workplace exposures: Epidemic surveys show that long and intense exposures to wood dust, paint fumes, and certain chemicals can increase the risk of laryngeal cancers.
- Genetic syndromes: Clinical data suggested that patient with Fanconi anemia or Dyskeratosis congenita has a risk of developing laryngeal cancer.
- Weakened immune system: Like other cancers, laryngeal cancer happens when people have a weak immune system.
- Race: Laryngeal cancer are more common among African Americans and whites than among Asians and Latinos.
- Age: Over half of patients with this cancer are older than 65.
- Gender: Laryngeal cancer is about 4 times more common in men than women.
How to know you have laryngeal cancer?
- Panendoscopy and biopsy: It is the most important test used to diagnose laryngeal cancer when people have certain risk factors or when signs and symptoms suggest this disease may be present. After you are sedated (made sleepy), an endoscope which is a thin, flexible, lighted tube was passed down your throat. Then the doctor can view the lining of your larynx and hypopharynx, including the esophagus and trachea (windpipe). If abnormal areas are noted, biopsies (tissue samples) can be obtained through the endoscope. The tissue samples will be checked by the doctors of pathology department under a microscope to see whether cancer is present or not.
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: An fine needle can be placed into a tumor in larynx or a mass in the neck and then detected under the microscope to determine whether it is cancer or other benign diseases.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan and biopsy: CT scans are often used to diagnose laryngeal cancer. It can confirm the location of the cancer and show the organs near the larynx, as well as lymph nodes and distant organs where the cancer might have spread. These are helpful for determining the stage of the cancer and in determining whether surgery is a good treatment option. CT scans can also be used to guide biopsy and a biopsy sample is usually removed and looked at under a microscope.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic fields but it is a different type of image than what is produced by computed tomography (CT) and produces detailed images of the body. Like computed tomography (CT), a contrast agent may be injected into a patient’s vein to create a better picture.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: When doing this test, a small amount of a radioactive medium is injected into your body and absorbed by the organs or tissues. This radioactive substance gives off energy which in turn is used to produce the images. PET can provide more helpful information than either CT or MRI scans. It is useful to see if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and it is also useful for your doctor to locate where the cancer has spread.
- Chest X-ray: This plain x-ray of your chest may be done to see if the cancer has spread to your lungs.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for laryngeal cancer?
Directions to Hospitals Treating laryngeal cancer
Prevention of laryngeal cancer
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/LaryngealCancer.htm
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_1x.asp?rnav=criov&dt=23