The presence of a malignant tumour in the larynx, the area of the throat that contains the vocal chords.
The larynx is made up of three parts: the glottis (where the vocal cords are located), the supraglottis (above the vocal cords and connected to the pharynx) and the subglottis (below the vocal cords and connected to the trachea). The functions of the larynx are voice production, swallowing and breathing.
The tumour will alter one of these functions, depending on its location and size. Risk factors associated with the development of this cancer: smoking, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, male sex, papillomavirus infection, inhalation of various chemical substances and chronic irritation due to gastric acid reflux.
The most common symptoms are hoarseness, sore throat, persistent cough, pain when swallowing, difficulty swallowing, earache, difficulty breathing, weight loss and a lump in the neck.
Treatment depends on the size and extent of the tumour. In the earliest stages, when the tumour is localised and smaller, treatment will be surgery or radiotherapy. In more advanced stages, radiotherapy and sometimes chemotherapy may be needed. If the tumour has spread outside the larynx, it will be treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Rehabilitation may be needed after treatment. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery, swallowing problems are common and oesophageal dilation or, in severe cases, surgical replacement of the pharynx or gastrostomy feeding tubes may be required.
Speech is more likely to be affected in cases where surgery is required and rehabilitation and speech therapy will be needed to regain the voice. The 5-year survival rate for throat cancer is 61%. However, more than half of patients are diagnosed and treated before the cancer has spread outside the larynx, and in these cases the 5-year survival rate is 76%.
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