How long does it take for throat cancer to develop?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on November 23, 2024
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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 Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can you speak after laryngeal cancer surgery?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor of the larynx, and the clinical treatment is mainly surgical, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and comprehensive treatment. Whether one can speak after surgery depends on the method of the surgery. Total laryngectomy renders the patient unable to speak. We can help the patient speak through esophageal speech, electronic larynx, and other assistive devices, but there is a significant difference in the sound quality and volume compared to normal speech. With partial laryngectomy, depending on the specific situation, the patient may be able to speak, but the quality of speech still differs greatly from normal speech. Overall, it depends on the condition of the laryngeal cancer and the surgical approach.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How is laryngeal cancer diagnosed?

In clinical settings, the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer primarily relies on several aspects. Firstly, the patient's history, such as a family history of laryngeal cancer, and whether there is a long-term smoking history, for example, smoking two packs a day. Secondly, we need some clinical data, such as whether the patient exhibits symptoms like hoarseness. Then, during physical examination, we need to check for the presence of cancerous tissues in the hypopharynx, vocal cords, and the subglottic cavity, such as the presence of lumps, uneven surfaces, erosion, ulcers, etc. These are its symptoms and signs. Furthermore, we can utilize some auxiliary examinations, such as laryngoscopy, which allows direct observation of the tumor tissue. However, the definitive test involves taking a sample of the tumor tissue for a biopsy, identifying the presence of tumor cells, i.e., cancer cells. This result serves as the basis for confirming a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer. Of course, other auxiliary examinations like CT scans and MRI can also assist in diagnosing laryngeal cancer.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of early-stage throat cancer?

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary: some people exhibit typical symptoms while others show atypical symptoms or even no symptoms initially. For glottic laryngeal cancer, one of the earlier symptoms is hoarseness. This type of cancer occurs in the vocal cords area, which can affect closure of the vocal cords during speech, causing hoarseness. Some patients may also experience throat pain, abnormal bloody discharge from the throat, or have difficulties in breathing and swallowing, which could all be symptoms of laryngeal cancer. However, some patients may not show any symptoms in the early stages, especially those with supraglottic or subglottic laryngeal cancer, where early symptoms are not typical. Symptoms might only appear in the mid to late stages. Therefore, it is necessary to use a laryngoscope for examination and to perform a neck CT for a comprehensive evaluation.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Early symptoms of throat cancer

The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary depending on the type, as laryngeal cancer is categorized into three types. The most common type, accounting for over 80%, is glottic cancer. The early symptom for this type is primarily hoarseness, making it the type of laryngeal cancer where symptoms appear earliest. The other two types are supraglottic and subglottic cancer. These types are less likely to show early symptoms, or the symptoms may not be typical and easily noticeable or taken seriously. The main symptom is a foreign body sensation in the throat, which is often mistaken for pharyngitis or laryngitis and not given due attention. Therefore, when experiencing persistent hoarseness or a noticeable foreign body sensation in the throat, and if throat discomfort persists, it is advised to visit the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) department of a hospital promptly for an examination with an electronic laryngoscope. This can help in the early detection, exclusion, and diagnosis of the condition.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Where is throat cancer likely to metastasize?

The metastasis of laryngeal cancer primarily involves local spread, mainly to the lymph nodes in zones 2, 3, and 4 of the neck. When the cancer becomes more severe, it can break through the lymphatic vessels and spread to the liver, kidneys, spleen, brain, lungs, and other related areas. Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor of the pharyngeal region, typically caused by long-term smoking, drinking, immunodeficiency, and cellular mutations. It commonly occurs in the vocal cords, esophagus, laryngeal ventricle, piriform sinus, base of the tongue, and epiglottis. It causes patients to feel a foreign body sensation in the throat, persistent hoarseness that progressively worsens, irritative cough, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing. An examination with an electronic laryngoscope can help diagnose the condition. If an abnormal mass is found, a local biopsy is necessary. If laryngeal cancer is confirmed, related surgical treatment as well as radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be required.