Laryngeal Cancer

A type of cancer that begins to develop in the larynx or voice box is called laryngeal cancer. The most common symptoms include hoarseness, sore throat, and persistent throat. While it is often treated with surgery (such as laryngectomy), doctors may also recommend other cancer treatments (including chemotherapy and radiation therapy).

In other words, laryngeal cancer negatively affects the larynx, which is involved in speaking, breathing, and swallowing. Furthermore, the larynx also contains vocal cords. The tumor can develop in any of the main parts of the larynx. These include:

Supraglottis (the upper part of the larynx) – Approximately 35% of all diagnosed laryngeal cancers start in this part of the larynx.
Glottis (the middle part of the larynx) – About 60% of laryngeal cancers start in this part of the larynx. Moreover, the glottis is the part of the larynx where the vocal cords are.
Subglottis (the lower part of the larynx) – In this part of the larynx, the tumor develops quite rarely, and it accounts for about 5% of all cases.

Generally, laryngeal cancer belongs to a group of cancers called head and neck cancers. It affects about 12,500 people in the United States. Furthermore, approximately 4,000 people die from laryngeal cancer each year.

What Are The Symptoms of Laryngeal Cancer?

In most cases, the early symptoms of laryngeal cancer are mistaken for other health conditions. One of the most common symptoms of this type of cancer is hoarseness that may last up to a few weeks, which is similar to a cold. That’s why you should consult a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur. Examples include:

Sore throat
Persistent cough
A lump in the neck or throat
Ear pain
Dysphonia (difficulty making voice sounds)
Pain
Dysphagia (swallowing problems)
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
A feeling like something is stuck in the throat
Stridor (a noisy and high-pitched breathing)

Causes and Risk Factors

A type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) called human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause laryngeal cancer. While anyone can develop this type of cancer, physicians have found some factors that could increase your risk of developing it. These include:

Smoking – This is one of the most significant risk factors for laryngeal cancer.
Misuse of alcoholic drinks – People who frequently drink alcohol are also at increased risk of laryngeal cancer.
Sex – Males are about 5 times more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than females. It may happen because of heavy alcohol drinking and smoking, which is more common among males.
Personal history of head and neck cancer – About 25% of people who have had head and neck cancer will develop it again in the future.
Continuous exposure to certain chemicals – These include sulfuric acid mist, wood dust, nickel, asbestos, and manufacturing mustard gas. Moreover, those who work with machines are also at increased risk of developing laryngeal cancer.

What Are The Potential Complications of Laryngeal Cancer?

This form of cancer can also cause some complications, especially if it is left untreated. Check some examples below:

Airway obstruction – This complication can cause dyspnea, stridor (noisy breathing), and other respiratory problems.
Voice changes or loss (also known as aphonia) – This complication can occur due to a tumor that grows in the larynx or surgery to remove the tumor.
Dysphagia (swallowing problems) – It occurs due to damage to the muscles or narrowing of the esophagus (the tube that carries food and drinks from the mouth to the stomach).
Metastasis – When the larynx cancer is left untreated, the tumor can break and spread to other tissues and organs in the body. In most cases, larynx cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes.
Infections and fistula – These are possible complications of surgery. Sometimes, people may develop infections or a pharyngocutaneous fistula (an abnormal opening between the throat and skin).
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) – This complication often occurs due to thyroid gland damage caused by radiation therapy.
Lymphedema – This complication causes swelling of the mouth, neck, or tongue due to fluid buildup. It usually occurs after surgery or radiation therapy.
Aspiration pneumonia – It happens when food or liquid enters the airway and causes infection.

This article does not contain a complete list of complications, but you can talk with your doctor about preventive measures. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent this type of cancer, but a doctor may recommend some tips to reduce the risk. For example, stop smoking (if you have problems with smoking cessation, discuss it with your doctor), limit or avoid alcoholic drinks, get treatment for alcohol use disorder, adopt a healthy diet, and regularly perform physical exercise.

Diagnosis

First, physicians will perform a physical examination to check for abnormalities linked to the disease. Thereafter, they will also ask some questions about your medical history and symptoms to gather more information about your disorder. In any case, to confirm or rule out laryngeal cancer, doctors should perform the following tests and procedures. These include:

Imaging tests – These tests are used to get detailed images of different structures and organs in the body. Physicians usually perform a chest X-ray, CT (computed tomography) scans, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. Sometimes, they may also perform a PET (positron emission tomography) scan to determine the exact location and size of the tumor.
Laryngoscopy – During this test, doctors use a small and lighted tube (endoscope) to examine the larynx.
Biopsy – This procedure involves the removal of a small piece of tumor for testing. The pathologists will check it for cancerous cells.

Once you are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, doctors may order additional imaging tests to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. For example:

Early laryngeal cancer – This includes stages 0, 1, and 2. It means that the tumor is small and has not spread to other parts of the body.
Advanced laryngeal cancer – It includes stages 3 and 4, and it means that the tumor is large or has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Treatment

Doctors often prescribe different treatment options for people with laryngeal cancer. It depends on several factors, including the location and size of the tumor, age, existing health problems, and others. Check below for the most common treatment options recommended by doctors:

Radiation therapy – This therapy is used to deliver high-energy radiation directly to the tumor. This energy often comes from protons or X-rays, but may also come from other sources.
Chemotherapy – This is another cancer treatment that involves strong medicines to destroy cancerous cells throughout the body. In some cases, doctors may recommend this treatment along with radiation therapy to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
Immunotherapy – Doctors often recommend this treatment when the previous treatments do not work to improve the immune system that finds and destroys cancerous cells. Most cancer cells produce specific chemicals that help them hide from the immune system.
Targeted therapy – These medications help block a protein in the cancer cell, causing them to die.
Surgery – It is usually recommended by doctors in the early stages of the laryngeal cancer when the tumor is small. In more advanced stages, surgery is not an option, or doctors may recommend a laryngectomy to remove the larynx completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after laryngeal cancer treatment?

Usually, doctors recommend having regular appointments with your physician to make sure you are recovering well. They may also recommend options to manage mucositis, dysphagia, pain, and other problems that may appear after treatment.

Where does laryngeal cancer spread first?

Most of the time, laryngeal cancer invades the thyroid gland, windpipe (also called trachea), tongue, lungs, lips, bones, or esophagus. For more details, discuss it with your physician.

Is there screening for laryngeal cancer?

However, there are no specific tests that can diagnose laryngeal cancer. That’s why doctors will perform imaging tests, blood tests, laryngoscopy, and biopsy to rule out other health conditions that cause similar symptoms to this type of cancer. If you have any other questions, ask your healthcare provider.