Can throat cancer be cured?

Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

Updated on September 02, 2024

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Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor located in the larynx, which can be classified into supraglottic cancer, subglottic cancer, glottic cancer, and transglottic cancer. Any malignant tumor is not incurable; it mainly depends on how early it is detected. If laryngeal cancer is discovered early and treated correctly, promptly, and appropriately, the primary treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, among others. Under these conditions, the survival rate, cure rate, and life expectancy are quite high. However, if the laryngeal cancer has reached an advanced stage and has metastasized to other parts of the body or distant organs, the prognosis is poor, and the survival rate is relatively low.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

47sec

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Is throat cancer easy to treat?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumor in the larynx, clinically mainly squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, the main treatment is comprehensive treatment centered around surgery, including surgical radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Laryngeal cancer can be completely cured if detected early. It is divided into three types: supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic cancer. Glottic cancer, due to the early and noticeable symptom of hoarseness, is usually detected early, thus the clinical treatment outcomes are relatively good. Therefore, laryngeal cancer is among the malignant tumors with relatively good treatment outcomes, and is considered relatively easy to treat. In summary, the current treatment outcomes for laryngeal cancer are still quite good.

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

56sec

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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 Rui

Otolaryngology

43sec

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The most common type of laryngeal cancer

At present, laryngeal cancer is classified based on anatomical location into three main types, with glottic cancer being the most common. Supraglottic and subglottic cancers are relatively less common. The primary symptom of glottic cancer is hoarseness, which can be noticeable in the early stages. Therefore, generally, the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better the treatment outcome may be. Additionally, laryngeal cancer is also classified by pathological types. The main pathological type is squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, surgical treatment is the most important, but depending on the patient's stage and type of cancer, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy might be necessary.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

48sec

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What is good for patients with throat cancer to eat?

Laryngeal cancer is a common disease in otolaryngology and is also a type of malignant tumor with a high degree of malignancy. Before surgery, it is generally recommended that patients with laryngeal cancer primarily consume a warm, semi-liquid diet, and avoid spicy and overly greasy food. It is important to control the patient's blood pressure and blood sugar. Additionally, once a tumor diagnosis is confirmed, timely surgical treatment should be carried out to remove the tumor. After surgery, patients typically need to fast from water for about 2-3 weeks and are fed through a gastric tube. During this time, a liquid diet should predominate and can be supplemented with eggs and minced meat to enhance protein intake and resistance, thereby improving immunity.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian

Otolaryngology

52sec

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

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.)