Cancer of the Larynx
Cancer of the voice box (larynx), sometimes referred to as throat cancer or laryngeal cancer, occurs when cells in the larynx become abnormal and grow out of control. Cancer of the larynx usually starts in very thin, flat cells (squamous cells) that line the outside of the larynx. Cancer cells can spread and form a mass of cells called a tumor. The cancer may spread deeper into the larynx, or it may spread to other areas of the body (metastasize).
This condition often affects one or both of the smooth, fiber-like cords that stretch across the opening of the larynx (vocal cords). The vocal cords make up the glottis, which opens and closes when you breathe to let air through your throat, and vibrates to make sounds when
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• Difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing.
• Ear pain.
• Difficulty breathing, especially when exercising. Breathing may be noisy (stridor), especially when you breathe out or breathe in very strongly.
DIAGNOSIS
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
• A physical exam of your larynx and other parts of your mouth, throat, and neck. Your health care provider may use a mirror with a long handle or a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end (laryngoscope) to look at your larynx.
• Removal and exam of a small number of cells (biopsy) from your larynx or a lump on your neck. The cells are checked under a microscope for cancerous formations.
• Blood tests which may include a complete blood count, an electrolytes test, and tests of your kidney and liver function.
• Imaging exams of your neck and body, such as:
○ X-rays.
○ CT scan.
○ PET scan.
○ MRI.
○ Bone scan.
Your cancer will be staged to determine its severity and extent. Staging is an assessment of:
• The size of the tumor.
• Whether the cancer has spread.
• Where the cancer has spread.
The stages of cancer of the larynx are as
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In this stage, abnormal cells that could become cancerous have been found in your larynx.
• Stage I. Cancer is growing on one part of the larynx . This may be one or both vocal cords, the subglottis, or the supraglottis. It has not metastasized. If cancer is growing on one or both vocal cords, the vocal cords can move normally at this stage.
• Stage II. Cancer has spread to more than one part of the larynx. If one or more vocal cords are affected, they may not be able to move normally.
• Stage III. Cancer has affected movement of the vocal cords and it may have spread to a lymph node on the same side of your neck as the cancer. Lymph nodes are part of your body 's disease-fighting (immune) system. Lymph nodes are found in many locations in your body, including the neck, underarm, and groin.
• Stage IV. This stage is divided into three sub-stages, IVA, IVB, and IVC. Cancer has spread to nearby areas. It may have spread heavily into your lymph nodes or metastasized to other body parts.
Cancer may return (recur) after initial treatment (recurrent cancer). Recurrent cancer can occur in the same location or in another part of the body.
If lymphatic cancer is found treatment is required immediately to get rid of the cancer cells as soon as possible so damage as is not done to normal cells.
Hoarseness, breathiness, scratchy/rough voice, the "lump in your throat" sensation, shooting pains from ear to ear, the need to breathe in deeper than usual ... these are all symptoms that a nodule can cause. A nodule is basically a small growth and looks like a bump on your vocal folds. This growth occurs from vocal abuse, misuse, and overuse. A healthy, normal vocal chord often has smooth, white mucosal surfaces and has no irregular objects on your vibrating borders. But when you abuse your vocal chords by putting force and tension upon them, the vibrations go into an "overload" and can cause too much friction on them. Eventually a type of bruise forms called a hematoma and a layer of fibrous tissues form into a soft or hard bump, AKA a nodule. Usually two nodules would form on each side of a vocal fold where the friction was extensive.
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