Throat and Larynx Cancer:
Symptoms, Stages, and Treatments

Cancers of the throat and larynx (voice box) are often difficult to diagnose because they aren't visible and are often asymptomatic (produce no symptoms) in the early stages of the cancer. If caught early, treatment has a better outcome. Unfortunately, most throat and larynx cancers are detected only when advanced.

Causes of Throat and Larynx Cancer

Throat and larynx cancer seem to develop as a result of long-term irritation of the cells lining the throat. Smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol greatly increase a person's risk of developing throat or larynx cancer.

Age and gender also appear to play a role in the development of throat or larynx cancer: Most cases of throat cancer occur in people over the age of fifty, and throat cancer is about ten times more common in men than in women.

Basic Anatomy of the Throat

  • trachea : The trachea, or the "windpipe" carries air to and from the lungs.
  • epiglottis: The epiglottis is a piece of tissue that covers the trachea when swallowing. This prevents food and liquids from entering the lungs.
  • larynx: The larynx, also called the voice box, lies between the pharynx and the trachea. Its primary function is sound production.
  • pharynx: The section of the throat leading to the stomach and lungs, located at the back of the throat. The shape of the pharynx in humans allows greater varitey in sounds.
  • esophagus: The esophagus is a tube that connects the oral cavity to the stomach.
 

Symptoms of Throat and Larynx Cancer

Symptoms depend on the location of the cancer. Some general symptoms of throat cancer include:
  • neck pain
  • difficulty swallowing
  • a persistent cough
  • a swelling or lump in the throat
  • a persistent sore throat
  • breathing difficulties.

If cancer affects the larynx, other specific symptoms may occur, including hoarseness and changes in the voice. Sometimes, these may just be due to vocal cord polyps and not cancer of the larynx.

Vocal Cord Polyps
Vocal cord polyps are benign growths on the vocal cords. The polyps may change one's voice. Oftentimes, resting one's voice is enough to solve the problem. If not, surgery may be recommended to remove the polyps.

Stages of Throat Cancer

Throat cancer can be divided into four stages:
  • stage I: The cancer is less than one inch and has not spread.
  • stage II: The cancer is between one and two inches and has not spread.
  • stage III: The cancer is more than two inches and has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck.
  • stage IV: The cancer has spread to other tissues, namely the lips and mouth. The cancer has spread to multiple lymph nodes on the same side of the neck or to one lymph node on the opposite side of the neck, or one lymph node is greater than three inches in diameter.

Treatment for Throat and Larynx Cancer

Treatment depends on the location and the stage of the cancer. Early stages of cancer often require only surgical removal of the tumor. Later stages of cancer, after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, require chemotherapy and radiation therapy to destroy the cancerous cells.

If the cancer affects the larynx, part of or the entire larynx may be removed in addition to the tumor. Many people require swallowing and speech therapy after treatment.

Resources

Better Health Channel. (updated 2004). Throat cancer.

CancerConsultants.com. (2004). Head and neck cancer treatment & prevention.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (updated 2004). Oral and throat cancer.

National Library of Medicine. (updated 2004). Cancer—Throat or larynx. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.