Lawrence Chow / ENT Doctor
The Stages of Laryngeal Cancer and Their Treatment Options
Laryngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that arises from the lining of the larynx. This part of the body includes the vocal cords, the esophagus, and the upper part of the windpipe. It can lead to serious complications if it’s not diagnosed early enough. Symptoms may include coughing up blood, feeling like one’s breathing passage might close off, hoarseness, pain in swallowing, voice changes, or trouble speaking. This article offers an overview on the stages of laryngeal cancer, its treatment options, and how to spot the first signs.
Stages of Laryngeal Cancer
Staging classifies a cancer based on how much cancer there is in the body and where it is when first diagnosed. Information from tests is used to find out the size of the tumour, which parts of the organ have cancer, whether the cancer has spread from where it first started and where the cancer has spread. Your ENT doctor uses the stage to plan treatment and estimate the outcome.
For laryngeal cancer, there are 5 stages – stage 0 followed by stages 1 to 4. The higher the stage number, the more the cancer has spread.
Some doctors may also use the following terms when discussing laryngeal cancer:
- Stage 0: The cancer is only in the inner lining of the larynx.
- Early stage: It includes stages 1 and 2.
- Locally advanced: It means stage 3.
- Advanced stage: It means stage 4.
Laryngeal cancer staging is very complicated since it is based on where the cancer starts in the larynx. There are unique descriptions for stages 1, 2 and 3 for cancer that starts above the vocal cords, in the vocal cords and below the vocal cords in the larynx. The stage 4 description is the same regardless of where the cancer started.
Treatment Options for Laryngeal Cancer
The different stages of the cancer correspond to the different areas that it has spread to. Treatment options can vary depending on where in the neck or head the cancer is (e.g., local treatment only, radiation and chemotherapy).
Local treatment of laryngeal cancer
When laryngeal cancer is diagnosed early, the most common treatment option is local treatment. For more advanced cancers, it may be necessary to remove the larynx and nearby lymph nodes. Surgery can also be done in stages: first removing the area where the tumor is located and then removing nearby lymph nodes that may contain cancer cells.
Radiation of laryngeal cancer
Radiation therapy is a technique that delivers high energy rays to tumors in order to decrease their size and limit damage to the surrounding tissue. The rays are controlled carefully so they don’t cause any damage to healthy cells or organs. The process usually requires many sessions over an extended period of time. Radiation therapy is often used in the later stages of the disease when it has metastasized, but it can also be used in early stages when there are few tumor cells present.
Chemotherapy of laryngeal cancer
Treatment of laryngeal cancer typically involves some form of surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Surgery may be done to remove the cancerous cells, along with some surrounding tissue for safety. Chemotherapy is one way to destroy laryngeal cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy delivers high-energy rays directly into the tumor in order to kill any remaining cells.
In research, most cases of laryngeal cancer are diagnosed early because most patients have a persistent cough. The most effective treatment method is surgical removal of the tumor. The best way to decrease the risk of larynx cancer is by avoiding smoking. Quitting smoking before the age of 40 lowers the risk significantly. Other points to note about laryngeal cancer are that it’s more common in males than females and that it can be caused by other factors such as alcohol consumption, exposure to certain chemical fumes, and human papillomavirus.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of our ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
https://www.hkentspecialist.hk
Laryngeal Cancer Symptoms: Who Should Be Concerned?
Laryngeal Cancer symptoms are symptoms that may indicate the presence of cancer in the larynx. Find out in this article about symptoms to watch for, what to do if you suspect something’s wrong, and who is at risk for Laryngeal Cancer.
What is Laryngeal Cancer?
Laryngeal cancer is a cancer that starts in the larynx, which is the organ in the throat that enables us to breathe and speak. Cancers can develop anywhere on the larynx, but they typically start in the vocal cords or nodules. Symptoms of laryngeal cancer include hoarseness, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, weight loss, and sometimes neck swelling.
Causes of Laryngeal Cancer
The most common cause of laryngeal cancer is smoking. As mentioned, the risk is much higher in people who smoke and drink heavily than for those who don’t. Another risk factor is exposure to asbestos and other substances, particularly in the workplace.
Are there any symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
Symptoms of Laryngeal Cancer
Symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary depending on the type. Some of the most common symptoms of early-stage laryngeal cancer are a persistent, chronic cough and hoarseness. These symptoms can be a result of other conditions as well, so the ENT doctor may conduct a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Early to mid-stage laryngeal cancer can cause ear pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing and a sore throat.
Who Is at Risk Of Getting Laryngeal Cancer?
Anyone who smokes, drinks a lot of alcohol, or has a weakened immune system is at higher risk for laryngeal cancer. Smoking has been shown to be one of the strongest risk factors for cancer of the larynx. People who smoke are 10 times more likely to get laryngeal cancer than those who never smoked.
Laryngeal cancer is not usually an aggressive form of cancer. It can be curable with treatment, but it’s important to see your ENT doctor when you notice laryngeal cancer symptoms like hoarseness, pain in the throat when swallowing food, or head and neck pain.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of our ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
https://www.hkentspecialist.hk
Medical Tests Used to Diagnose Laryngeal Cancer
Medical Tests Used to Diagnose Laryngeal Cancer
Most people who experience symptoms like hoarseness in their voice or chronic sore throat would seek an appointment with an ENT specialist to check if they are suffering from a deadly disease known as laryngeal cancer.
The larynx is the medical term for the voice box, which can be found in the neck right above the windpipe’s opening. This cancer is often found due to symptoms or signs that a person experiences and if your ENT doctor suspects you may have it, then he will order some tests to confirm the diagnosis.
The following are the most widely used tests to confirm the presence of laryngeal cancer: Continue reading
Cancer of the Epiglottis – What It Is and How to Treat It
Cancer of the Epiglottis – What It Is and How to Treat It
What is Epiglottis Cancer?
The Epiglottis is the part of the body attached at the very top point of the larynx and is a flap that functions to cover the trachea while swallowing. This prevents food from entering the breathing tubes which would cause aspiration or even pneumonia in cases where liquids pass through.
Cancer of the epiglottis is often considered as part of cancer of the larynx or laryngeal cancer.
Cancer is a condition where the body’s cells do not die after they have subsequently divided and spread. Instead they continue to divide and multiple, clumping together to form lumps of tissues known as tumors. In many cases the cancer cells affect other healthy cells and this leads to the dysfunction of organs and thus leads to death. Continue reading
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另所有文章內使用的人名均為化名。
另所有文章內使用的人名均為化名。