When you get a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, it's natural to wonder what
may have caused the disease. Doctors can't always explain why one person
gets laryngeal cancer and another doesn't.
However, we do know that people with certain risk factors may be more likely
than others to develop laryngeal cancer. A risk factor is something that may
increase the chance of getting a disease.
Smoking tobacco causes most laryngeal cancers. Heavy smokers who have smoked
tobacco for a long time are most at risk for laryngeal cancer.
Also, people who are heavy drinkers are more likely to develop laryngeal
cancer than people who don't drink alcohol. The risk increases with the amount
of alcohol that a person drinks. The risk of laryngeal cancer increases even
more for people who are heavy drinkers and heavy smokers. However, not everyone
who drinks or smokes heavily will develop the disease.
Many other possible risk factors are under study. For example, researchers
are studying whether an HPV infection in the throat may increase the risk of
laryngeal cancer. HPV is a group of viruses that can infect the body. Another
area of research is whether reflux (the backward flow of liquid from the stomach
to the throat) may increase the risk of laryngeal cancer.
How to Quit Tobacco
Quitting is important for anyone who
uses tobacco. Quitting at any time is beneficial to your health.
For people who already have laryngeal cancer, quitting may reduce the
chance of cancer returning after treatment. Quitting may also reduce the
chance of getting another type of cancer (such as lung, esophagus, or
oral cancer), lung disease, or heart disease caused by tobacco. In
addition, quitting can help cancer treatments work better.
There are many ways to get help:
Ask your doctor about medicine or nicotine replacement therapy.
Your doctor can suggest a number of treatments that help people
quit.
Ask your doctor or dentist to help you find local programs or
trained professionals who help people stop using tobacco.
Call NCI's Smoking Quitline at 1–877–44U–QUIT (1–877–448–7848)
or chat using LiveHelp. We can tell you about:
Ways to quit smoking
Groups that help smokers who want to quit
NCI publications about quitting smoking
How to take part in a study of methods to help smokers quit
Go online to Smokefree.gov, a Federal Government Web site. It
offers a guide to quitting smoking and a list of other resources.
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.
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