Step Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer

If you are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, your doctor will advise you to undergo treatment as soon as possible. Early treatment may increase the likelihood of the patient to recover.

Treatment of laryngeal cancer generally includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Appropriate treatment measures for patients will be determined by the doctor based on tumor size and extent of the spread.

Early-stage cancer is sometimes adequately treated with radiotherapy or small surgery. Whereas advanced stage cancer or a large enough tumor usually requires a combination of greater surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

In general, surgery that may be recommended in dealing with laryngeal cancer involves removal of the tumor during endoscopy and laryngectomy.

Removal of tumors in endoscopic procedures is usually recommended for small-sized tumors with an early stage. While laryngectomy is advised to treat cancer at a more advanced stage.

Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx. This procedure is divided into 2 types, namely:

Partial laryngectomy. In this operation, only a portion of the patient's vocal cords will be lifted so that the patient's speaking ability can still be saved. But the patient's voice will turn hoarse or soft.

Total laryngectomy. This operation will lift the entire ballot box and the surrounding lymph nodes. Therefore, the ability to talk the patient will be lost. Total laryngectomy will also leave a permanent hole (stoma) on the patient's neck to assist breathing. Stoma hygiene should always be kept free from germs.

For patients undergoing a total laryngectomy, there are several steps that allow the patient to regain the ability to speak. One of them by installing a tool in the form of an artificial valve on the patient's neck. Speech therapists will guide patients to familiarize themselves with their use.

Prevention of Laryngeal Cancer

Just like all cancers, laryngeal cancer also can not be prevented completely. All we can do is to suppress the potential of the risk factors.

The main step to avoid laryngeal cancer is to stop smoking and limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Limit consumption of alcohol as recommended, in a day is 2 to 2.5 cans of beer 4.7 percent alcohol for men, and a maximum of 2 cans of alcohol content 4.7 percent for women.

Applying a healthy and balanced diet is also believed to help prevention of laryngeal cancer as well as various other diseases.