The larynx, or the larynx, with its Latin name used in medicine, is an organ located in the upper and anterior part of the trachea in the throat. The larynx, which is responsible for voice and respiration; It has a box-like structure consisting of cartilage, connective tissue and membrane.
What is Laryngeal Cancer?
Laryngeal cancer, the incidence of which has increased in recent years in parallel with the increase in the use of cigarettes and tobacco products worldwide. It is one of the types of cancer. It is the most common type of cancer among head and neck cancers, although it is one of the rarest types when looking at all cancer types.
Laryngeal cancer occurs when uncontrolled growth occurs due to mutations in the cells of the larynx, which consists of three different parts, upper, middle and lower, and plays an important role in speech, swallowing and respiration. Smoking is thought to be the most important factor in the formation of laryngeal cancer. In scientific studies conducted to date, no different risk factor thought to be directly related to laryngeal cancer has been identified, except for the use of cigarettes and tobacco products. The probability of developing laryngeal cancer, which is much more common in men than in women, increases 5-35 times in smokers compared to non-smokers.
Since its progression is very fast, it is very important to detect it at an early stage and to start the treatment process as soon as possible in terms of increasing the success of the treatment and the quality of life of the patient.
What are the Symptoms of Laryngeal Cancer?
Laryngeal Cancer Cancer, like all other types of cancer, progresses insidiously in its initial stages and may not show any suspicious symptoms. When diagnosed retrospectively, patients complain of long-lasting and unexplained hoarseness as the first symptom. Since it is a type of cancer that progresses rapidly, other symptoms are added as the stage of the cancer progresses. The most common signs of laryngeal cancer include:
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Neck sores and pain
- Pale swelling in the neck area
- Ear pains
- Cough
- Anorexia and weight loss
- Bloody saliva and sputum
- Feeling of being stuck in the throat
What are the Causes of Laryngeal Cancer?
There are factors that can cause this type of cancer or some risk factors that can make it easier to catch this type of cancer. These are as follows:
Use of alcohol and tobacco products: The first degree risk factor for developing throat cancer is the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Considering the researches, approximately 90% of the patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer use tobacco products. The longer tobacco products have been used, the higher the risk of contracting the disease. Excessive alcohol use or the use of alcohol in addition to tobacco products are among the factors that increase the risk of developing throat cancer. These risk factors pose a risk not only for laryngeal cancer, but also for all head and neck cancers.
Problems related to diet: Maintaining an unhealthy and unbalanced diet for a long time, especially not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, can cause all types of cancer and therefore laryngeal cancer.
Age and gender: As in many types of cancer, individuals aged 60 and over are at a greater risk of developing the disease in laryngeal cancer. In addition, male individuals are 5 times more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than females. The risk of developing laryngeal cancer increases significantly in working individuals.
Up� In addition to the reasons given below, some factors such as genetic predisposition, gastroesophageal reflux disease, HPV infection and stressful life, which occur with a family history of laryngeal cancer, can be considered among the causes of laryngeal cancer.
How to Diagnose Laryngeal Cancer?
In individuals who apply to health institutions with the symptoms of laryngeal cancer, the diagnosis process begins with a detailed physical examination by the physician. Before the examination, the patient's complaints are listened in detail by the physician, acute and chronic diseases in the patient and the drugs used are learned. During the examination, the throat and neck area can be examined and palpated. In case of suspicion of laryngeal cancer, some diagnostic tests are applied.
The most common of these is the imaging method called laryngoscopy, which allows close examination of the throat and vocal cords. With laryngoscopy, which is an endoscopy technique, the larynx and throat area can be viewed in detail under the light with the help of a laryngoscope with a camera. In the meantime, if any suspicious formation is observed, a biopsy is taken from the area under local or general anesthesia and sent to pathology laboratories for examination.
With pathology reports, it is determined whether the cancer is present or not. While planning the treatment process in diagnosed patients, further diagnostic tests are also applied to investigate whether there is spread to different organs and tissues.
Medical imaging tests such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and neck ultrasonography, and some blood tests are the most common among these.
Larynx What are the Treatment Methods for Cancer?
When making a treatment plan for laryngeal cancers, many factors such as the patient's age, health status, concomitant diseases, if any, cancer's stage, size, location, and whether it has spread to different tissues and organs are evaluated together. In the treatment process, any one or a combination of applications such as surgical operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be preferred.
Lopharyngeal cancer surgery is usually performed in early stages where the tumor is limited to the surface and vocal cords. It is preferred in cases. After entering the mouth with the help of an endoscope, an incision is made with the help of laser. Although it varies depending on the extent of the tumor, a part of the larynx (partial laryngectomy) or the entire larynx (total laryngectomy) is usually removed together with the tumor. If laryngeal cancer has spread deeper than the neck, then lymph nodes may also need to be removed. This process is called neck dissection.
Since there may be difficulties in breathing after surgical operations, a hole is opened from the front of the neck to the trachea with the method called tracheostomy and breathing is provided from here. Although this hole may be permanent in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, the tracheostomy holes opened after surgical operations are usually closed after the operation area has healed. It is generally preferred not as a stand-alone treatment, but in combination with other treatment options. Chemotherapy can be applied to shrink the tumor or after surgical operations or radiotherapy procedures. In the radiotherapy of laryngeal cancer, it is aimed to reduce or destroy the tumor by damaging the cancerous cells with the help of high-energy rays. It is a treatment method that can be applied alone in early-stage cancers and in combination with surgical operations in advanced-stage cancers. After treatment, patients should completely quit smoking and other tobacco products and alcohol use.
He should make regular exercise and a healthy diet a part of his life. After the treatment, different treatment and rehabilitation practices can be continued by the physicians due to swallowing disorder, speech problems, pain and some other complications in the patient. In some cases, complete removal of the larynx may be life-saving. These patients lose their ability to speak after the surgery and the patient needs a voice (speech) device to adapt to their new life. � hears.
Voice prosthesis (speech device) is inserted when the larynx is removed or later with general anesthesia. It is a small tube placed in front of the esophagus. It carries air from the lungs to the junction of the esophagus and the pharynx. When the air flow is continued, the patient can talk for a long time. In order for the system to work, the patient must close the hole in the neck with a finger when the patient will speak. The patient is given exercises to learn to speak with a voice device.
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