I am not happy to write about this, I want to warn everyone who smoke tobacco and nicotine. Today after reading this you will definitely at least think about it.
How harsh can a cigarette be, lets have a look.
This a picture of a patient suffering from throat cancer or laryngeal cancer. After surgical removal of vocal cords and the tumor, there is a rehabilitation of hole which allows space for breathing and speaking.Lets talk about this cancer in detail.
The larynx is a part of the throat, between the base of the tongue and the trachea. The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them. The sound echoes through the pharynx, mouth, and nose to make a person's voice.
There are three main parts:
- Supraglottis: It is upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords, including the epiglottis.
- Glottis: It is middle part, where the vocal cords are located.
- Subglottis: It is lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea (windpipe).
Laryngeal cancers are mostly squamous cell carcinomas, reflecting origin from the skin of the larynx.
The cure rate is affected by the location of the tumor however, Cancer can develop in any part of the larynx.
Most laryngeal cancers are originated in the glottis. Supraglottic cancers are less common, and subglottic tumurs are least frequent.
Laryngeal cancer may spread by direct extension to adjacent structures, by metastasis to regional cervical lymph nodes, or more distantly, through the blood stream. Distant metastases to the lung are most common.
Risk factors:
According to me, having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
The most important risk factor for laryngeal cancer is smoking. Death from laryngeal cancer is 20 times more likely for heaviest smokers than for non smokers. Heavy chronic consumption of alcohol, particularly alcoholic spirits, is also significant. When combined, these two factors appear to have a synergistic effect. Some other quoted risk factors are likely, in part, to be related to prolonged alcohol and tobacco consumption. These include low socioeconomic status, male sex, and age greater than 55 years.
Further risks stem from workplace exposure to polluted breathing air such as wood dust, paint fumes, and certain chemicals used in the metalworking, petroleum, plastics, and textile industries and infections by Papillomaviridae.
People with a history of head and neck cancer are known to be at higher risk (about 25%) of developing a second cancer of the head, neck, or lung. This is mainly because in a significant proportion of these patients, the aerodigestive tract and lung epithelium have been exposed chronically to the carcinogenic effects of alcohol and tobacco. In this situation, a field change effect may occur, where the epithelial tissues start to become diffusely dysplastic with a reduced threshold for malignant change. This risk may be reduced by quitting alcohol and tobacco.
Cancer may spread from where it began to other parts of the body.
The following stages are used for laryngeal cancer:
- Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Stage IV
Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)
In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the lining of the larynx. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.
Stage I:
In stage I, cancer has formed in the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis area of the larynx:
Supraglottis: Cancer is in one area of the supraglottis and the vocal cords work normally.
Glottis: Cancer is in one or both vocal cords and the vocal cords work normally.
Subglottis: Cancer is in the subglottis only.Stage II:
In stage II, cancer has formed in the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis area of the larynx:
Supraglottis: Cancer is in more than one area of the supraglottis or has spread to the area at the base of the tongue or to tissues near the vocal cords. The vocal cords work normally.Stage III:
Glottis: Cancer has spread to the supraglottis, subglottis, or both, and/or the vocal cords do not work normally.
Subglottis: Cancer has spread to one or both vocal cords and the vocal cords may not work normally.
In stage III, cancer has formed in the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis area of the larynx:
Note: Tumor sizes are often measured in centimeters (cm) or inches. Common food items that can be used to show tumor size in cm include: a pea (1 cm), a peanut (2 cm), a grape (3 cm), a walnut (4 cm), a lime (5 cm or 2 inches), an egg (6 cm), a peach (7 cm), and a grapefruit (10 cm or 4 inches).
In stage III cancer of the supraglottis:
cancer is in the larynx only and the vocal cords do not work, and/or cancer has spread near or through the inner part of the thyroid cartilage. Cancer may have also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller; oror
cancer is in one area of the supraglottis and the vocal cords work normally. Cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;
cancer is in more than one area of the supraglottis or has spread to the area at the base of the tongue or to tissues near the vocal cords. The vocal cords work normally. Cancer has also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller.In stage III cancer of the glottis:
cancer is in the larynx only and the vocal cords do not work, and/or cancer has spread near or through the inner part of the thyroid cartilage. Cancer may have also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;
or
cancer is in one or both vocal cords and the vocal cords work normally. Cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;or
cancer has spread to the supraglottis, subglottis, or both, and/or the vocal cords do not work normally. Cancer has also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller.
In stage III cancer of the subglottis:
cancer is in the larynx only and the vocal cords do not work, and/or cancer has spread near or through the inner part of the thyroid cartilage. Cancer may have also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;
or
cancer is in the subglottis only. Cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;
or
cancer has spread to one or both vocal cords and the vocal cords may not work normally. Cancer has also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller.
Stage IV:
Stage IV is divided into stage IV A, stage IV B, and stage IV C. Each substage is the same for cancer in the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis.
1. In stage IV A:
Cancer has spread through the thyroid cartilage and/or has spread to tissues beyond the larynx, such as the neck, trachea, thyroid, or esophagus. Cancer may have also spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller;
or
Cancer may have spread from the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis to tissues beyond the larynx, such as the neck, trachea, thyroid, or esophagus. The vocal cords may not work normally.
Cancer has spread:
to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is 3 centimeters or smaller. Cancer has spread through the outside covering of the lymph node; or
to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters but not larger than 6 centimeters. Cancer has not spread through the outside covering of the lymph node;
or
to more than one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters. Cancer has not spread through the outside covering of the lymph nodes; or
to lymph nodes on both sides of the neck or on the side of the neck opposite the primary tumor and the lymph nodes are not larger than 6 centimeters. Cancer has not spread through the outside covering of the lymph nodes.
2. In stage IV B:
Cancer may have spread from the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis to the space in front of the spine, the area around the carotid artery, or the area between the lungs. The vocal cords may not work normally.
Cancer has spread:
to one lymph node that is larger than 6 centimeters. Cancer has not spread through the outside covering of the lymph node; orWhat are the ways of spread of cancer:
to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the primary tumor and the lymph node is larger than 3 centimeters. Cancer has spread through the outside covering of the lymph node;
or
to more than one lymph node anywhere in the neck. Cancer has spread through the outside covering of the lymph nodes;
or
to one lymph node of any size on the side of the neck opposite the primary tumor. Cancer has spread through the outside covering of the lymph node;
or
Cancer has spread from the supraglottis, glottis, or subglottis to the space in front of the spine, the area around the carotid artery, or the area between the lungs. Cancer may have also spread to one or more lymph nodes anywhere in the neck and the lymph nodes may be any size.
In stage IVC, cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, or bone.
Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood.
Tissue: The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
Lymph system: The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
Blood: The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.
The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend on the size and location of the tumor. Symptoms may include the following:
- Hoarseness or other voice changes
- A lump in the neck
- A sore throat or feeling that something is stuck in the throat
- Persistent cough
- Stridor - a high-pitched wheezing sound indicative of a narrowed or obstructed airway
- Bad breath
- Earache ("referred")
- Difficulty swallowing
Treatment includes:
There are different types of treatment for patients with laryngeal cancer.
Four types of standard treatment are used:
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
- Targeted therapy
- Radiosensitizers
Treatment for laryngeal cancer may cause side effects.
Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment.
Follow-up tests may be needed.
Hoping that this may become a life changing blog post for someone, someone who really need this. And this is my kind request to stop the use of cigarettes, not for others but for oneself.
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