"I had started experiencing hoarseness for about three months. I went to my doctor, and he was amazing. He told me because of my age, and the length of time I had the hoarseness, that it might be cancer. He also told me that he could not be certain without an ENT doctor doing tests on me, so he made the appointment. Sure enough, he was right. I was diagnosed with stage I cancer of the larynx, but because of early diagnosis, I have a 90% chance of recovery. I also had a chance to accept the diagnosis because I was warned so early. If you have any changes in your body or health, go to the doctor, and get it checked out."
Patient Discussions are not a substitute
for professional medical advice, or treatment.
See the disclaimer at the
bottom of the comments page.
Throat cancer (larynx cancer) facts
The larynx is the voice box located at the top of the
windpipe
(trachea).
Cancer of the larynx occurs most often in people over the
age of 55
years.
People who stop smoking can greatly reduce their risk of
cancer of
the larynx.
Painless hoarseness can be a symptom of cancer of the
larynx.
The larynx can be examined with a viewing tube called a
laryngoscope.
Treatment of cancer of the larynx depends on the location
and size of
the tumor as well as the age and health of the patient.
Cancer of the larynx is usually treated with radiation
therapy or
surgery. Chemotherapy can also be used for cancers that have
spread.
What is the larynx?
The larynx is an organ in your throat. It's at the front of your
neck.
This organ is about 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide, which is about the
size of a lime.
The larynx is also called the voice box. It 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:
Top: The top part of the larynx is the supraglottis.
Middle: The
middle part is the glottis. Your vocal cords are in this part.
Bottom:
The bottom part is the subglottis. It connects to the windpipe
(trachea).
Your larynx opens or closes to allow you to breathe, talk, or swallow:
Breathing: When you hold your breath, your vocal cords shut tightly. When you
let out your breath or breathe in, your vocal cords relax and open.
Talking:
Your larynx makes the sound of your voice. When you talk, your vocal cords
tighten and move closer together. Air from your lungs is forced between the
cords and makes them vibrate. The vibration makes the sound. Your tongue, lips,
and teeth form this sound into words.
Swallowing: Your larynx protects your
lungs from food and liquid. When you swallow, a flap called the epiglottis
covers the opening of your larynx to keep food and liquid out of your lungs. The
picture below shows how food or liquid passes through the esophagus on its way
from the mouth to the stomach.
Cancer cells
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues
make up the larynx and the other organs of the body.
Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When
normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn't need
them, and old or damaged cells don't die as they should. The buildup of extra
cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.
Tumors in the larynx can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign
tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:
Benign tumors (such as polyps or nodules):
are usually not a threat to
life
can be treated or removed and usually don't grow back
don't invade the
tissues around them
don't spread to other parts of the body
Malignant growths:
may be a threat to life
usually can be treated or removed but can grow back
can
invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
can spread to other parts of the
body
Laryngeal cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the tumor in the
larynx. They can travel through lymph vessels to nearby lymph nodes. They
can also spread through blood vessels to the lungs, bones, or liver. After
spreading, laryngeal cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to
form new tumors that may damage those tissues.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Head and neck cancer is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, or lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck. These cancers account for 3% to 5% of cancers in the U.S. Tobacco and alcohol use are important risk factors. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
Acid backing up into the larynx (voice box), it causes reflux laryngitis. Irritation of the lining of the esophagus, larynx, and throat can lead to esophagitis, sinusitis, strictures, hoarseness, throat clearing, swallowing problems, asthma, chronic cough, and more. Typical symptoms of reflux laryngitis include heartburn, hoarseness, or a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Reflux laryngitis can be treated with OTC medication, prescription medication, and lifestyle changes.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, low birth weight or premature birth, and more. Secondhand smoke also increases your baby's risk of developing lung cancer, heart diseases, emphysema, asthma, allergies, and SIDS.
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease in women and men. Nicotine in cigarettes decrease oxygen to the heart, increases blood pressure, blood clots, and damages coronary arteries. Learn how to quit smoking today, to prolong your life.
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. But it can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. Damage to healthy cells may cause side effects. Often, side effects get better or go away after chemotherapy is over.
What does chemotherapy do?
Depending on your type of cancer and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can:
Cure cancer - when chemotherapy destroys cancer cells to the point that your doctor can no longer detect them in your body and they will not grow back.
Control cancer - when chemotherapy keeps cancer from spreading, slows its growth, or destroys cancer cell...
Cancer RSS
Healthy Living Tips
