Laryngeal Tumor

What is laryngeal cancer?

Often referred as cancer of the larynx this cancer is known to affect any part of the larynx and depending upon the spread and location of the tumor the treatment and the success rate is determined.

It has been found that most of the laryngeal tumor or cancer originates from the glottis, of the three glottis i.e. the glottis, supraglottis and the sub glottis. The other two have shown the development of cancer but then the occurrence is not so high as compared to the glottis.

This type of cancer is known to spread to other parts that are adjacent to the larynx or to other parts of the body through the blood. Spread to other body parts is known as metastases and the most common distant metastases are the cancer of the lungs.

What are the signs and symptoms of laryngeal tumors?

This type of cancer starts with a change in the voice i.e. the voice becomes hoarse and in some cases the voice is completely lost as the airway is blocked totally. This type of cancer affects most people who are old or are in a habit of chewing tobacco or smoking.

How can you evaluate the spread of the tumor and what is the mode of treatment?

Here evaluation is done either by directly inspecting the vocal cords which is known as laryngoscopy or by indirectly using a mirror for examination. Fiber optic is yet another option to evaluate the extent of the tumor and here the fiber optic scope or instrument is inserted into the mouth and sometimes even the nose and passed to the throat where the vocal cords can be easily observed.  Tissue structure is taken for biopsy and viewed through a microscope to find any irregularities in the cell structure.

There are some conventional methods to treat laryngeal cancer and this includes surgery as the first option, radiation therapy and sometimes followed by chemotherapy, biotherapy and even local hyperthermia.

Radiation therapy is administered to shrink or destroy the growth of the tumor. This is sometimes followed by chemotherapy where by certain highly powerful medications or combination drugs are used to destroy the cancerous cells in the larynx, the side effects of chemotherapy are rather unpleasant so it is used as a last resort.

Biotherapy on the other hand is administered to increase the immune system of your body which has gone weak due to radiation and chemotherapy and it is more effect to help you cope up with the side effects of both the above mentioned modes of treatments.

On the other hand local hyperthermia treatment is done by subjecting these cancerous cells to a very high degree temperature whereby the cancer cells are destroyed and it becomes sensitive to other therapies like radiation and chemotherapy.

How do you prevent laryngeal cancer?

Quit smoking as this is a major reason for the development of laryngeal cancer, quit or reduce your drinking habits, stop chewing tobacco as this also is a reason for the development of laryngeal cancer.