Laryngeal Cancer

I saw a gentlman with this type of throat cancer while I was working as a patient care tech. He began vomiting copious amounts of blood and it couldn't stop. He was taken to surgery so that the bleeding vessels could be cauterized, but it was so bad he died. Cancer on the larynx is called laryngeal cancer. Usually it will be discovered when a person has pain or trouble swallowing, or hoarseness and pain when talking. Other symptoms include earache, the feeling of a persistent lump in your throat, trouble breathing, a persistent cough, and bad breath.

You probably know that smoking is a huge risk factor for this type of cancer, but drinking alcohol is also a biggie. Men are 4x more likely to have this type of cancer, and it occurs mainly in people older than 55. African Americans are more likely than people of Caucasian ethnicities to get laryngeal cancer, and gastric reflux disease puts you at a higher risk also. Also, breathing asbestos is a risk factor.

To diagnose, a doctor will do a physical exam, and/or laryngoscopy and CT. Laryngoscopy involves a tube with a camera down your throat and CT will use contrast to show tumors. After that, a biopsy will determine whether the tumor is malignant or not.

I think this type of cancer is particularly bad, in part because I saw the poor man who couldn't stop vomiting blood, but because it affects your breathing, your talking, and your swallowing. Patients might have to have a feeding tube put in, a tracheostomy, and may lose their ability to speak.