Laryngeal Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment decisions for Laryngeal Cancer Railroad Settlement carcinoma are influenced by a variety of factors. Our neck and head cancer specialists will help you weigh your options and think about how each treatment might affect swallowing, speech and quality of life.

Your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy or targeted cancer treatments. These drugs kill cancer cells and Laryngeal Cancer Railroad Settlement may be used to shrink a tumor prior to surgery, or to increase the effectiveness of radiation.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may suspect larynx cancer when you exhibit certain signs, such as hoarseness that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, or lumps that appear in your throat. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, and will perform a an examination of your throat and neck. They will feel inside your mouth, throat, cheeks, and gums; and look at your neck for swollen lymph nodes.

If your doctor spots an abnormal lump the doctor may decide to perform an examination of the biopsy area to look for cancer laryngeal cells. They will take a small portion of tissue from the region and examine it using the microscope. Then, they'll test this tissue for specific protein markers that aid in determining whether it's cancerous and what type it is.

Your doctor will suggest treatments based on your symptoms and the results of these tests. This is known as staging. It assists your healthcare team determine how much the cancer laryngeal has gotten and whether it has spread to other parts of your body.

Your doctor may also use the information from your medical records to determine what kind of treatment you've had in the past. The results of your scans, tests and records will be compared with your medical records. This will allow them to determine the best method to treat your cancer. Your treatment plan may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or surgery or any combination of these treatments.

Treatment

Cancer is a condition that occurs when cells within the human body begin to grow and multiply without a plan or direction. This can lead to the formation of a tumor which is a collection of abnormal cells that grow together and create an accumulation of tissue known as cancer.

There are a variety of treatment options for laryngeal cancer. The kind of treatment you choose depends on the stage of your illness. Your doctor will determine the best method of treatment by analyzing your symptoms and doing an examination. They might also recommend imaging tests like an CT scan or an MRI of your neck and head. These tests help them determine whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. A biopsy is an additional important test. During this test your doctor will remove a small piece of tissue from the area affected and send it to a laboratory to be examined using a microscope. The lab searches for specific proteins that are specific to cancer cells.

If you have advanced laryngeal cancer your doctor may recommend surgery, followed by radiation or chemotherapy. In certain cases it is possible to combine surgery with radiation. The type of surgery you undergo will depend on the location and the size of your tumor. Your doctor will explain your options and address any questions you have.

Follow-up

Exams for follow-up are required to check if the cancer has recurred after treatment. These exams include x-rays of the throat and neck to check for changes as along with a special swallowing test, laryngeal Cancer railroad Settlement known as a barium swallow to examine the function of the larynx. Other tests, like a biopsy, can be used to determine whether the cancer has recurred or spread.

The larynx is an muscular structure that provides a rigid support for the trachea (windpipe) during breathing and swallowing food and liquids. It also plays a role in voice production. Patients may experience hoarseness and difficulty speaking when the function of the larynx is compromised.

The use of radiation therapy is to treat small tumors that only affect the larynx in a small portion. Radiation is delivered to the area of tumor daily for a couple of weeks, usually by mouth. If a surgical procedure is chosen, it involves removing the affected part of the larynx.

For larger tumors, surgery or more aggressive radiation could be considered, based on the patient's preference and the stage of the cancer. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the neck area, a more extensive surgery or primary (C)RT is typically needed. In some instances it is necessary to have a tracheostomy to assist the patient with breathing. This involves inserting a tube into the windpipe through an opening known as a "stoma" in the neck.

Support

The larynx, also known as the voice box, is located within the throat at the top of the windpipe (trachea) and just in the gullet's front (oesophagus). It contains 2 vocal cords which vibrate when air passes through them, causing us to speak. Cancers can form in the thin flat cells that line the larynx.

To treat throat cancer, the first step is to determine how far it has spread. This allows your doctors to decide on the best treatment for you.

Staging is based on the results of tests, like biopsy, to determine the type and grade of the tumor and whether it has spread. It also considers your health status, age and other variables.

Depending on your stage of laryngeal carcinoma, you may benefit from treatments such as surgery and radiation. You may also consider a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, called chemotherapy. This is a treatment option for people with early-stage cancers and may help you avoid surgery and preserve your voice box. It is a treatment option for recurrent cancers of the throat.

The MD Anderson team includes specialists who specialize in the field of swallowing and rehabilitation of communication. They can assist you to gain the ability to talk after treatment for laryngeal cancer laryngeal or its complications. They can also offer emotional support and advice.