Man is the only creature on earth that has a unique ability - the ability to speak. This possibility is associated with the special structure of such an organ as the larynx, which, in addition to the voice-forming function, performs a number of other equally important tasks: it participates in the act of breathing, prevents the entry of foreign elements into the trachea, bronchi and lungs. However, this structure is as susceptible to the onset of cancer as any other. Throat cancer, the features of which will be described below, occupies a leading position in the incidence of tumors in the ENT organs. More often throat cancer affects males after 40-50 years.
The predisposing factors for cancer are:
- long smoking;
- work in chemical plants or plants with a high dust content,
- general adverse environmental conditions. Residents of cities are several times more likely to suffer from malignant formations of the larynx than the rural population;
- modern research has revealed that viral diseases and a lack of vitamin A play an important role in the development of this process;
- There are a number of diseases that can also lead to the development of cancer: papillomas, diskeratoses (leukoplakia), fibromas, cicatricial changes after specific diseases or burns.
Due to the structural features of the mucous membrane, the most common malignant tumor of the larynx is squamous cell cancer. It is found in 98 percent of all cases. The clinical picture and course of the disease depends on the department that is affected by the tumor process (upper, middle, lower).
What does throat cancer look like in patient complaints?
When a neoplasm is localized in the upper vestibular section, patients have complaints about the presence of a foreign body, coughing that is not related to infection, choking, increasing discomfort, pain and difficulty swallowing, which subsequently lead to refusal to eat. Cancer of the throat, whose symptoms are so diverse, can easily manifest itself in anatomical formations far from this structure. For example, with this pathology, pain or congestion in the ear may very well appear.
Throat cancer behaves somewhat differently , the signs of which are many-sided, in the middle anatomical part of the larynx, where the vocal cords are located . If in the first case the symptoms of the disease may not manifest themselves for a long time, then the slightest changes in the form of voice distortion, hoarseness or even complete aphonia immediately become noticeable.
When cancer cells affect the lower sublingual region, complaints of shortness of breath and shortness of breath appear. When the oncological process touches the upper or middle part of the larynx, due to the peculiarity of its growth (exophytic type, i.e. external), it will be possible to feel the areas of compaction on the neck. The tumor of the lower part is more prone to endophytic growth. Most often, throat cancer, the signs of which may not be very pronounced, appears in the superfold part of the larynx, has a tendency to quickly flow and spread metastases to the regional lymph nodes. Cancer of the ligamentous region behaves less aggressively, and tumors of the subclavicular region are extremely rare.
At stage 0 of throat cancer, the signs of which are slightly expressed, organ-preserving operations using laser surgery and subsequent radiotherapy are used. The forecast in this case is very favorable. Even in patients with stage 1 of the process, the same set of measures can achieve good results. In other cases, massive radiotherapy is accompanied with traumatic types of surgical operations and the use of cytostatic drugs. Grade 4 throat cancer is practically incurable.