Surgery is a common treatment for people with cancer of the larynx. The
surgeon may use a scalpel or laser. Laser surgery may be performed with a
laryngoscope. You and your surgeon can talk about the types of surgery and which
may be right for you:
Removing part of the larynx: The surgeon removes only the part of
the larynx that contains the tumor.
Removing all of the larynx: The surgeon removes the entire larynx
and some nearby tissue. Some lymph nodes in the area may also be removed.
It takes time to heal after surgery, and the time needed to recover is
different for each person. It's common to feel weak or tired for a while, and
your neck may be swollen.
Also, you may have pain or discomfort for the first few days. Medicine can
help control your pain. Before surgery, you should discuss the plan for pain
relief with your doctor or nurse. After surgery, your doctor can adjust the plan
if you need more pain control.
Surgery may change your ability to swallow, eat, or talk. You may need to
have reconstructive or plastic surgery to rebuild the tissue. The surgeon may
use tissue from another part of your body to repair the throat. You can have
reconstructive or plastic surgery at the same time as you have the cancer
removed, or you can have it later on. Talk with your doctor about which approach
is right for you.
If you lose the ability to talk for a short time after surgery, you may find
it helpful to use a notepad, writing toy (such as a magic slate), cell phone, or
computer to write messages. Before surgery, you may want to make a recording for
your answering machine or voicemail that tells callers that you have lost your
voice.
Some people may need a temporary feeding tube.
Stoma
The surgeon may need to make a stoma. The stoma is a new airway through an
opening in the front of your neck.
Air enters and leaves the trachea and lungs through this opening. A metal or
plastic tube (a trach tube) keeps the new airway open.
Before you leave the hospital, your health care team will teach you how to
care for the stoma. You will learn to remove and clean the trach tube, clean out
your airway, and care for the skin around the stoma.
You may want to follow these tips:
Keep the skin around the stoma clean.
If the air is dry, use a humidifier.
If
the air is dusty or smoky, cover your stoma with a scarf, tie, or specially made
cover.
Protect your stoma from water.Cover your stoma before you take a shower.
Cover your stoma when you cough or sneeze.
For many people, the stoma is needed
only until recovery from surgery. Several days after surgery, the tube will be
removed, and the stoma will close up. If your entire larynx is removed, the
stoma will be permanent.
People with stomas work in almost every type of business and can do nearly
all of the things they did before surgery. However, they can't hold their
breath, so heavy lifting may be hard. Also, swimming and water skiing are not
possible without a special device and training to keep water out of the lungs.
Some people may feel self-conscious about the way they look and speak with a
stoma. They may be concerned about how other people feel about them. They may
also be concerned about how their sex life may be affected. Many people find
that talking about these concerns is helpful.
You may want to ask your doctor these questions before having surgery:
Do you recommend surgery to remove the tumor? Why? Do I need any lymph nodes
removed? Will other tissues in my neck need to be removed?
After surgery to
remove the cancer, will my throat area need to be repaired with tissue from
another part of my body?
What is the goal of surgery?
How will I feel after
surgery? How long will I be in the hospital?
What are the risks of surgery?
Will
I have trouble swallowing, eating, or speaking? Will I need to see a
speech-language pathologist for help?
What will my neck look like after surgery?
Will I have a scar?
If I need a stoma, do you recommend that I get a medical
bracelet that says "neck breather"?
Will I need reconstructive or plastic
surgery? When can that be done?
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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