Larynx Cancer (Throat Cancer)

• What is the larynx?
• What is cancer?
• Who is at risk for larynx cancer?
• What are symptoms of larynx cancer?
• How is larynx cancer diagnosed?
• What are treatment options for larynx cancer?
• Methods of treatment
• Patient Discussions: Larynx Cancer - Describe Your Experience
• What are the side effects of treatment for larynx cancer?
• What is involved in rehabilitation after surgery for larynx cancer?
• What happens after treatment for larynx cancer?
• What support is available for patients with larynx cancer?
• What resources are available to patients with larynx cancer and their families?
• Larynx Cancer At A Glance

What is the larynx?

The larynx is an organ at the front of your neck. It is also called the voice box. It is about 2 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is above the windpipe (trachea). Below and behind the larynx is the esophagus.

The larynx has two bands of muscle that form the vocal cords. The cartilage at the front of the larynx is sometimes called the Adam's apple.

The larynx has three main parts:

• The top part of the larynx is the supraglottis.
• The glottis is in the middle. Your vocal cords are in the glottis.
• The subglottis is at the bottom. The subglottis connects to the windpipe.

The larynx plays a role in breathing, swallowing, and talking. The larynx acts like a valve over the windpipe. The valve opens and closes to allow breathing, swallowing, and speaking:

• Breathing: When you breathe, the vocal cords relax and open. When you hold your breath, the vocal cords shut tightly.
• Swallowing: The larynx protects the windpipe. When you swallow, a flap called the epiglottis covers the opening of your larynx to keep food out of your lungs. The food passes through the esophagus on its way from your mouth to your stomach.
• Talking: The larynx produces the sound of your voice. When you talk, your vocal cords tighten and move closer together. Air from your lungs is forced between them and makes them vibrate. This makes the sound of your voice. Your tongue, lips, and teeth form this sound into words.

What is cancer?

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of your body. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as your body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Growths on the larynx also may be called nodules or polyps. Not all growths are cancer. Growths can be benign or malignant:

Benign growths are not cancer:

• They are rarely life-threatening.
• Usually, benign tumors can be removed, and they seldom grow back.
• Cells from benign tumors do not spread to tissues around them or to other parts of the body.

Malignant growths are cancer:

• They are generally more serious and may be life-threatening.
• Malignant tumors usually can be removed, but they can grow back.
• Cells from malignant tumors invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. That is how cancer cells spread from the original cancer (the primary tumor) to form new tumors in other organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis. Different types of cancer tend to spread to different parts of the body.

Cancer of the larynx also may be called laryngeal cancer. It can develop in any part of the larynx. Most cancers of the larynx begin in the glottis. The inner walls of the larynx are lined with cells called squamous cells. Almost all laryngeal cancers begin in these cells. These cancers are called squamous cell carcinomas.

If cancer of the larynx spreads (metastasizes), the cancer cells often spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck. The cancer cells can also spread to the back of the tongue, other parts of the throat and neck, the lungs, and other parts of the body. When this happens, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells as the primary tumor in the larynx. For example, if cancer of the larynx spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are actually laryngeal cancer cells. The disease is called metastatic cancer of the larynx, not lung cancer. It is treated as cancer of the larynx, not lung cancer. Doctors sometimes call the new tumor "distant" disease.

Next: Who is at risk for larynx cancer? »

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