Treatment and Prevention
Like most cancers, treatment for laryngeal cancer involves surgery, radiotherapy,
chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments. The decision about what type
of therapy to use is made according to how advanced the cancer is (i.e., the stage) and exactly where it is located.
Early-stage cancer of the larynx can often be treated with radiation alone.
Radiotherapy is the preferred method whenever possible, because it usually
doesn't affect the quality of the voice and side effects are most often temporary.
The side effects to radiation can include:
- sensitive mouth and gums
- sores in the mouth
- reduction in saliva production
- sore throat
- voice changes
- red, dry skin
- loss of sense of taste or smell
Surgery can involve removing the whole larynx and surrounding tissues
or just part of the larynx, depending on how far the cancer has spread.
With partial removal (laryngectomy), you will often be able to eat and
breathe as you did before the surgery, after all has healed. You will probably
have a temporary tracheostomy (a hole in the throat) while the throat repairs,
but the stoma (hole) will be allowed to close up and breathing will return
to normal. Your voice quality may change but you will be able to speak.
If you need to undergo a total laryngectomy, the voice box is completely removed,
and you will be left with a tracheostomy in order to breathe. This tracheostomy
is permanent.
Finally, chemotherapy may be needed if the cancer has spread. Chemotherapy
is also used to "sensitize" the area for radiation in cases of advanced tumors that are still thought to be treatable. Because chemotherapy circulates throughout
the body, more of the body systems are affected by the treatment. Side effects
from chemotherapy include:
- nausea and vomiting
- hair loss
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- chills
- shortness of breath
- mouth sores
The five-year survival rate for laryngeal cancer that's detected early is
usually 80% or more. Most recurrences of cancer happen within the first
two or three years of treatment. Follow-up procedures usually involve monthly
check-ups for the first year and then every few months thereafter. Unfortunately,
because the very same risk factors that might have caused the first tumor may also have caused other damage, the chances of a second
tumor developing (often in the head, neck, or lung)
can be as high as 25%.
Many risk factors for cancer of the larynx are known, the most common
of these being smoking and alcohol abuse. Many cases of cancer could be prevented
by avoiding these known causes.
Other ways to reduce risk include:
- using respirators when in industrial areas with cancer-causing chemicals
- getting treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- eating a balanced, healthy diet