What should I do if I have a cough from throat cancer?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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Laryngeal cancer is a common malignant tumor in otolaryngology. Patients with laryngeal cancer often experience coughs primarily because of the presence of tumors at the glottis, which then cause irritative coughs. For patients with the aforementioned symptoms, we should first diagnose the disease using a laryngoscope and CT scans of the throat area. Subsequently, it is crucial to remove the tumor through surgery as early as possible to achieve a complete cure. Post-surgery, patients usually undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In the early stages before surgery, when the patient suffers from severe coughing, medications that clear the throat and benefit the voice can be used to alleviate the symptoms and reduce the patient's suffering. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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How long does it take for throat cancer to develop?

Throat cancer is a common malignant tumor in otolaryngology, which usually forms over the course of a year or half a year. However, patients typically have long-term chronic stimuli and medical history before the tumor changes occur, such as a long history of smoking or drinking, as well as exposure to physical and chemical factors. Early symptoms of throat cancer often include hoarseness, while in the mid to late stages, patients may experience difficulty swallowing and breathing difficulties. We can make a definite diagnosis through local pathological biopsy, electronic laryngoscopy, and CT scans of the throat area. Early detection of throat cancer should lead to timely surgical treatment, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For late-stage patients who are not suitable for surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy should be administered promptly to extend the patient's lifespan.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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The difference between laryngeal cancer and pharyngeal cancer

The main difference between laryngeal cancer and pharyngeal cancer lies in the different parts they affect. Laryngeal cancer occurs below the level of the epiglottis, while pharyngeal cancer generally occurs above this level, including tumors in the pharynx, tonsils, and base of the tongue, whereas laryngeal cancer primarily involves the vocal cords and the lower pharynx. For the diagnosis and treatment of pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers, we can use nasoendoscopy, paranasal sinus CT scan, and CT scan of the larynx among other examinations to make a clear diagnosis, and a pathological biopsy for final confirmation. Once diagnosed, it is usually necessary to surgically remove the tumor promptly to achieve a cure.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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recurrence rate of throat cancer after surgery

Throat cancer is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck diagnosed by otolaryngologists. Its occurrence is often related to prolonged smoking, drinking, air pollution, and other adverse environmental factors. Currently, the primary treatment for throat cancer is surgical intervention. The likelihood of recurrence after surgery varies from person to person. For early-stage throat cancer patients, the chance of recurrence is relatively low if a thorough excision is performed. Complete recovery rates are usually above 70%-80%. However, for patients with lymph node metastasis in the middle to late stages, recurrence rates are typically above 50%-60%.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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The difference between esophageal cancer and laryngeal cancer

Esophageal cancer and laryngeal cancer are both malignant tumors. Esophageal cancer refers to the malignant tumor occurring in the esophagus, while laryngeal cancer refers to the malignant tumor occurring in the larynx. Therefore, their tumor locations are different. The pathology of both is generally squamous cell carcinoma. The main symptom of esophageal cancer is obstructed eating; patients will feel difficulty swallowing, obstruction, and worsening of these symptoms as they eat. The primary symptom of laryngeal cancer is typically a hoarse voice, which distinguishes the symptoms of the two cancers.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Malignant treatment methods for laryngeal cancer

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor of the larynx, clinically mainly squamous cell carcinoma. The treatment method for laryngeal cancer should be based on the patient's age, the pathological type of the patient, the extent of the malignant tumor, and the presence or absence of systemic metastasis. Clinical treatments mainly focus on surgery, combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as comprehensive treatment methods. There may be some differences in surgical approaches for different types of laryngeal cancer, such as total laryngectomy or partial laryngectomies, which can be vertical or horizontal. Therefore, treatment should be tailored to the specific conditions of the patient. In late-stage laryngeal cancer, only palliative symptomatic treatment can be performed.