People with early laryngeal cancer may be treated with surgery or
radiation therapy. People with advanced laryngeal cancer may have a
combination of treatments. For example, radiation therapy and chemotherapy
are often given at the same time. Targeted therapy is another option for
some people with advanced laryngeal cancer.
The choice of treatment depends mainly on your general health, where in your
larynx the cancer began, and whether the cancer has spread.
You may have a team of specialists to help plan your treatment. Your doctor
may refer you to a specialist, or you may ask for a referral. Specialists who
treat laryngeal cancer include:
Ear, nose, and throat doctors (otolaryngologists)
General head and neck surgeons
Medical oncologists
Radiation oncologists
Other health care professionals who work with the specialists as a team may
include a dentist, plastic surgeon, reconstructive surgeon, speech-language
pathologist, oncology nurse, registered dietitian, and mental health counselor.
Your health care team can describe your treatment choices, the expected
results of each, and the possible side effects. You'll want to consider how
treatment may affect eating, swallowing, and talking, and whether treatment will
change the way you look during and after treatment. You and your health care
team can work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Before, during, and after cancer treatment, you can have supportive care to
control pain and other symptoms, to relieve the side effects of treatment, and
to ease emotional concerns. Information about supportive care is available on
NCI's Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping.
Also, NCI's Cancer Information Service can answer your questions about
supportive care. Call 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or chat using LiveHelp,
NCI's instant messaging service, at http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.
You may want to talk with your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial.
Clinical trials are research studies testing new treatments. They are an
important option for people with all stages of laryngeal cancer.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions before you begin
treatment:
How large is the tumor? What is the stage of the disease? Has
the tumor grown outside the larynx or spread to other organs?
What are my treatment choices? Do you suggest surgery, radiation
therapy, or a combination of treatments? Why?
What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
What is my chance of keeping my voice with surgery, radiation
therapy, or a combination of treatments?
What can I do to prepare for treatment?
Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
How can side effects be managed?
What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my insurance cover
it?
How will treatment affect my normal activities?
Is a research study (clinical trial) a good choice for me?
Can you recommend a doctor who could give me a second opinion
about my treatment options?
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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