Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the epithelial tissue of the laryngeal mucosa. It is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck region, but the symptoms are not obvious in the early stage. Laryngeal cancer is more common in middle-aged and elderly men, and the cancerous tumors can be classified into three types based on their location: supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic. The main functions of the larynx are breathing, coughing due to irritation, swallowing, and talking, so all four basic functions will be slightly impaired once a patient develops laryngeal cancer.
Most laryngeal cancer patients are long-term smokers, and they usually experience chronic hoarseness. If the cells on the vocal cords begin to bleed, sometimes blood may be present in the phlegm. In addition, alcohol consumption, HPV infection, long-term exposure to asbestos, mustard gas or petrochemical gases, and chronic acid reflux are also risk factors for laryngeal cancer.
For early-stage laryngeal cancer, the main treatments are surgical resection or radiation therapy, with a cure rate of over 95%. In the past, doctors would insert a rigid endoscope into the patient's mouth to determine the location of the tumor and then use traditional surgery to remove the cancerous cells. Nowadays, a laser is used to remove the tumor, leaving no visible wounds on the surface. The patient's voice may become hoarse after surgery. The degree of hoarseness depends on how many tissues were removed, and it will gradually improve during the recovery period. For early-stage laryngeal cancer, radiotherapy has a similar cure rate and level of hoarseness compared to surgical resection, but the treatment time is longer. Patients need to undergo radiotherapy every day for about 5 to 7 weeks, depending on the size of the tumor. Since radiotherapy for early-stage laryngeal cancer is concentrated on a specific site, it causes few long-term complications.
The symptoms of early-stage laryngeal cancer are not obvious, so high-risk individuals should undergo regular throat examinations. After administering local anaesthesia, doctors will use an endoscope to examine the nasal cavity and the opening of the sinus to detect any abnormalities before symptoms appear, allowing for early detection and appropriate treatment.
The above information is for reference only. If you have any medical questions, please consult your doctor.
