Table of Contents
*Laryngeal cancer mini-files
*Larynx – the body’s concert hall
*Why do you get laryngeal cancer?
*What are the symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
*How can I be sure that I have laryngeal cancer?
*How is laryngeal cancer staged?
*How to treat laryngeal cancer?
*Facing the throat cancer storm
*After the storm of laryngeal cancer
*Laryngeal cancer mini-files
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The incidence of laryngeal cancer accounts for about 1%-2% of the whole body tumors and 11%-12% of otorhinolaryngologic cancers in China.
The number of laryngeal cancer accounts for the second highest number of head and neck cancers in China, after nasopharyngeal cancer.
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The prevalent age of laryngeal cancer is 50 to 70 years old, and there are more men than women, with the ratio of men to women being about 10:1.
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The occurrence of laryngeal cancer is closely related to habitual smoking or drinking.
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Laryngeal cancer is one of the cancers with better prognosis among head and neck cancers. If detected early and treated early, it has a cure rate of over 90%.
*Larynx – the body’s concert hall
The larynx is a vocal organ located in the front center of the neck, which is connected to the upper oropharynx and the lower trachea. In fact, “pharynx” and “larynx” are two similarly located organs with different functions, the former is the passage of food and the latter is the passage of air.
Clinically, the larynx is subdivided into three parts: the upper vocal cord (above the vocal cords), the vocal cord (vocal cords), and the lower vocal cord (below the vocal cords).
The main functions of the larynx are three.
1, respiratory function: when breathing, air enters the alveoli for gas exchange through the nostrils, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and finally the alveoli. The larynx is located in the middle of the entire respiratory system, above the vocal cords is called the upper respiratory tract, below the vocal cords is called the lower respiratory tract, when breathing the vocal cords will open to facilitate air circulation.
2.Protective function: The opening of the esophagus is located at the back of the larynx. When we swallow, the epiglottis cartilage and the vocal cords of the larynx will close to prevent food from entering the trachea by mistake.
3.Vocal function: The vocal folds are controlled by several precise nerves and muscles to open, close and tighten them, and the airflow vibrates the vocal folds to produce sound.
*Why do you get laryngeal cancer?
Although laryngeal cancer, like most cancers, the true causative factors are still unknown.
A few possible causative factors include.
1. Smoking: It is the main risk factor. The risk of throat cancer is 5 to 35 times higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Ninety percent of laryngeal cancer patients are old smokers.
2.Drinking: The risk of laryngeal cancer is 2 to 5 times higher for regular drinkers than for other people. The risk is even higher if you smoke and drink at the same time.
3.Malnutrition: Alcoholics usually have poor dietary habits, and if they lack Vit B and Vit A, it may be related to the occurrence of laryngeal cancer.
4.Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): These viruses are mostly found on human reproductive organs, forming warts or causing cervical lesions. However, there are a few cases where the virus is transmitted from the mother to the baby through the birth canal during childbirth, resulting in chronic throat infection; very few of these cases result in throat cancer years later.
5. Autoimmune dysfunction: Head and neck cancers often occur in people with congenital or acquired immune dysfunction.
*What are the symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
1. Hoarseness: persistent hoarseness is the main early symptom of laryngeal cancer, accounting for 80% to 90%. The larynx is a very delicate organ and once a tumor grows, it will cause atresia of the vocal cords and change the voice. If the voice is hoarse for unknown reasons and lasts for more than two weeks, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
2. Breathing difficulty: When the tumor grows, it may block the airway and cause breathing difficulty.
3.Sore throat: If the laryngeal cancer invades more widely, it will cause sore throat.
4.Swallowing difficulty: Pain and difficulty in swallowing are caused by the tumor invading the esophagus and extending to the root of tongue or throat.
5.Uncured cough or coughing blood: Coughing and coughing blood in sputum may be caused by ulceration, erosion and inflammation of cancer tissues, and increased secretions, which are retained in the trachea and throat, and patients often have the feeling that sputum is stuck in the throat and cannot be coughed out.
6.Neck lump: When laryngeal cancer cells metastasize to the neck through lymph, a lump will appear in the neck.
7.Other: such as unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, etc.
*How to determine if I have laryngeal cancer?
Laryngeal cancer cannot be detected directly by the naked eye because of its deep location, so ENT doctors must use some special instruments to examine.
? Laryngoscopy: A laryngoscope is placed into the larynx through the nasal or oral cavity, and if an abnormality is found, the suspected lesion can be directly sectioned under anesthesia to confirm the diagnosis.
? Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: After the diagnosis is confirmed, the head and neck are then scanned with CT or MRI, which is used to understand the size of the tumor, the location of growth and the invasion of adjacent tissues.
What are the other organs? Examination of other organs: A complete staging examination to determine the stage of the tumor is a must before deciding on the treatment.
*How to stage laryngeal cancer?
The evaluation of the size and location of laryngeal cancer has a great impact on the treatment and prognosis of patients. Among them, carcinoma of the voice box is the most common, followed by carcinoma of the supraglottis, and carcinoma of the subglottis is rare. In terms of cytopathological classification, squamous epithelial cell carcinoma is the most common, followed by adenocarcinoma, and sarcoma is rare.
Clinically, laryngeal cancer can be divided into four stages, which are distinguished as follows.
[Stage I].
Stage I Supraglottic region: the cancer is confined to one area on the vocal cords and the vocal cords can move normally.
? Vocal fold zone: the cancer is confined to the vocal fold and the vocal folds can move normally.
? Subglottic zone: the cancer is confined to the subglottic area and the vocal cords can move normally.
Phase II]
? Supraglottic zone: the cancer is not confined to the supraglottic area, or has spread to the vocal folds, and the vocal folds can move normally or their function has been partially impaired.
? Supraglottic area: the cancer has spread to the supraglottic or infraglottic area or both, or the function of the vocal cords has been partially impaired.
? Subglottic area: cancer has spread to the vocal folds, and the vocal folds can move normally or their function has been partially damaged.
Stage III]
Stage III is defined as having one of the following.
? The cancer is confined to the larynx, but the vocal cords are immobile.
? The cancer has invaded the adjacent tissues of the larynx or the superficial layer of the thyroid cartilage.
? The cancer has spread to a lymph node in the ipsilateral neck, but the lymph node is less than 3 cm.
Stage IV]
Stage IV is defined as having one of the following.
? The cancer has spread extensively to the tissues surrounding the larynx, such as the pharynx, neck tissues, or severely damaged the thyroid cartilage.
? The tumor has invaded a lymph node 3 to 6 centimeters in size in the ipsilateral neck, or several lymph nodes 3 to 6 centimeters in size, or has spread to both sides of the neck, but both are less than 6 centimeters, or any one lymph node is more than 6 centimeters.
? The cancer has spread to other parts of the body (distant metastasis).