Laryngeal Cancer
[
en Español]
What is laryngeal cancer?
Laryngeal cancer occurs when cancerous (malignant) cells form
on the tissues of the
larynx
, or voice box. The larynx contains the vocal folds. The vocal
folds vibrate. This makes sound when air is directed against
them. A person's voice is heard when this sound echoes
through the throat, mouth, and nose.
What are some signs or symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
A person with laryngeal cancer may notice:
- hoarseness or change in his or her voice
- difficulty swallowing
- a lump in the throat
- bad cough or chest infection
- shortness of breath
- bad breath (halitosis)
- weight loss
- prolonged earache
How is laryngeal cancer diagnosed?
You should visit a doctor if you have any of the
above-mentioned symptoms. A doctor will feel your throat for
lumps. He or she will also look down your throat with an
endoscope
, a tube with a special light, to see your larynx. This procedure
is called a laryngoscopy. The doctor may need to cut out a small
piece of tissue, if the larynx has tissue that does not look
normal. The doctor will look at the tissue under a microscope to
see if it contains any cancer cells. This procedure is called a
biopsy, and it is the only way to diagnose cancer.
What treatments are available for individuals with laryngeal
cancer?
One or more of the following approaches may be used depending
on the size, location, and time of cancer detection:
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy
- partial removal of the larynx (
laryngectomy
)
- total laryngectomy
In these cases, the person may still be able to produce voice.
However, the person's voice may not be the same because of
removing parts of the larynx, changes to laryngeal tissue from
radiation or chemotherapy, or removal of nearby neck muscles (to
prevent or stop the spread of the cancer).
In extreme cases, total laryngectomy, with or without
radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may be the only life-saving
solution.
Patients who have undergone radiation treatment may have:
- dry and/or red skin at the site of the treatment
- sore throat
- dry mouth (
xerostomia
)
- sensitive mouth
- mouth sores
- difficulty swallowing
- decreased taste
- fatigue
- breathing difficulties from swelling
Patients who have received chemotherapy, often for the
treatment of metastasized cancer (i.e., cancer that has spread),
may have:
- nausea or vomiting
- increased chance of infection
- bleeding or bruising
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
These side effects often stop after the chemotherapy is
discontinued.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play an important role
both before and after surgery. See
Laryngeal Cancer: Benefits of Speech-Language Pathology
Services
to learn more.
To contact a speech-language pathologist, visit
ASHA's Find a Professional.
What is a laryngectomy?
A laryngectomy is the removal of the voice box (larynx) from
the neck, usually because of cancer. During this operation, a new
route for breathing is surgically created. The end of the
windpipe (trachea) is connected to a hole (stoma) made in the
neck. Rather than using the mouth and the nose, the person will
breathe through this hole.
Because the patient with the laryngectomy breathes through a
stoma, the air inhaled into the lungs is no longer warmed or
moisturized by structures of the nose and mouth. As a result, the
breathing tubes can become irritated and create a thick mucus.
This mucus may also crust on the stoma and require routine
removal. The patient may benefit from humidifiers and a cover to
protect the stoma.
What other organizations have information on laryngeal
cancer?
This list is not exhaustive and inclusion does not imply
endorsement of the organization or the content of the Web site
by ASHA.
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See Also:
Laryngeal Cancer: Causes and Number
Laryngeal Cancer: Benefits of Speech-Language
Pathology Services