Larynx cancer

Is cancer of the vocal cords, or other areas of the throat.

• Smoking
• Use of tobacco
• Smoking and drinking alcohol combined
• Most cancers of the throat develop in adults older than 50.

• Neck pain
• Sore throat that does not resolve in 1 to 2 weeks
• Swelling in the neck
• Abnormal weight loss
• Abnormal (high-pitched) breathing sounds
• Cough
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness that does not resolve in 1 to 2 weeks

• An examination of the neck and throat
• A laryngoscopy - to look into the mouth and down the throat to see the tumor.
• A neck or cranial CT scan to determine if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck.
• Biopsy to confirm the presence of a cancerous tumor.

1. When the tumor is small, either surgery or radiation therapy alone can be used to eliminate the tumor..
2. When the tumor is larger or has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, combination radiation and chemotherapy is often used to preserve the voice box and is successful in most cases.
3. Surgical removal of the tumor, including all or part of the vocal cords (laryngectomy) may be necessary in some cases. If a laryngectomy is required, a surgical prosthesis (artificial vocal cords) may be implanted, voice aids may be used, or speech therapy may be recommended to teach alternative methods of speaking.
4. Many patients also need swallowing therapy after treatment to help them adjust to the changes in the structure of the throat.

Throat cancers can be cured in 90% of patients if detected early. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes in the neck, 50 - 60% of patients can be cured. If the cancer has spread (metastasized) to parts of the body outside the head and neck, the cancer is not curable and treatment is aimed at prolonging quality of life.

• Difficulty swallowing
• Disfigurement of the neck or face
• Hardening of the skin of the neck
• Loss of voice and speaking ability
• Spread of the cancer to other body areas (metastasis)
• Airways obstruction

• Hoarseness or change in voice with no obvious cause that lasts longer than 1 week.
• Lump in the neck that does not go away in 2 - 3 weeks.

Minimize or avoid smoking and excess alcohol use.