What Is Laryngeal (Throat) Cancer?
The larynx (throat) is an organ located just below the throat and in front of the pharynx (throat), where the vocal cords are found. Its function is to prevent food from entering the windpipe during eating. Since the larynx contains the vocal cords—which vibrate in response to the air passing through them to produce sound—the sound generated in the larynx resonates in the pharynx, oral cavity, and nose. The sound is further shaped by the movements of the soft palate, tongue, and lips, taking on the form of speech. Laryngeal cancer occurs when certain cells in the larynx multiply and form a tumor.
Ways to Prevent Laryngeal (Larynx) Cancer
- Avoiding cancer-causing substances such as tobacco and alcohol,
- Avoiding the use of the voice at high pitches,
- Avoiding dry and cold environments,
What Are the Symptoms of Laryngeal (Throat) Cancer?
The initial symptoms typically include hoarseness and changes in voice quality if the tumor has settled on the vocal cords or spread to this area. For this reason, it is essential to consult an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist if hoarseness persists for an extended period, especially if it lasts longer than two weeks. Other symptoms of laryngeal cancer include a sensation of something stuck in the throat and pain in the throat that radiates to the ears. In advanced cases, symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, pain while swallowing, and bloody sputum may also be present. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck, gradually enlarging swellings appear on the side of the neck.
Risk Factors for Laryngeal (Throat) Cancer
- Laryngeal (throat) cancer, which affects one in every 100,000 people in the general population, is most commonly seen in male smokers. 95% of patients with laryngeal cancer are smokers. The risk of developing laryngeal cancer in these individuals is 5 to 35 times higher than in non-smokers.
- Another risk factor is excessive alcohol consumption. The role of alcohol consumption, especially when combined with smoking, in the development of cancer is significantly greater. Poor nutrition also plays a role in the development of this type of cancer. It is known that throat cancer rates are higher among people working in certain industries, such as the petroleum industry, the paint industry, and woodworking.
- It has been suggested that acid reflux may also play a role in the development of throat cancer.
Diagnostic Methods for Laryngeal (Throat) Cancer
If one or more symptoms are present, it is essential to consult an ENT specialist without delay. When laryngeal cancer is suspected, the patient is examined using a rigid or flexible laryngoscope. If an abnormal growth is detected, a biopsy is taken from the suspected tumor areas under local or general anesthesia to confirm the diagnosis. During the diagnostic phase, imaging methods such as neck ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) are used to determine the extent of the disease.
Laryngeal (Larynx) Cancer Treatment Methods
The choice of treatment for laryngeal cancer depends on the tumor’s location and size within the larynx, its stage, the presence of neck or distant metastasis, the patient’s age, and overall health. Four main types of treatment are typically used.
Surgical treatment: The most commonly used and, in many cases, the most effective treatment method for laryngeal cancer. For patients who seek treatment in the early stages of the disease, a portion of the larynx is removed along with the cancerous tissue; for those who seek treatment in the later stages, the entire larynx is removed. In some of these surgeries, a hole called a tracheotomy is created in the front of the neck to allow the patient to breathe through it. This hole, created to ensure safe breathing in the postoperative period for patients who have had only a portion of their larynx removed, is closed within a few days. In total laryngectomy, since the entire larynx is removed, this opening is permanent. If cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck or if the likelihood of spread is high, it may be necessary to remove the lymph nodes in the neck (neck dissection) during surgery.
Voice quality is quite high in patients who have had part of their larynx removed. Speech difficulties that arise after surgeries where the entire larynx is removed can be alleviated by using a voice prosthesis and voice therapy.