recurrence rate of throat cancer after surgery

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 18, 2025
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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Postoperative Care for Laryngeal Cancer

Postoperative care for throat cancer is crucial and mainly includes the following aspects: First, it is vital to maintain a clear airway. After throat cancer surgery, most patients will require a tracheotomy, which means regular suctioning is necessary to ensure the airway remains clear. Special attention should be paid to prevent obstruction of the tracheal cannula, as blockage could lead to breathing difficulties and even suffocation in severe cases. Secondly, regarding diet, most patients need a liquid diet administered through a gastric tube immediately following throat cancer surgery, as they are temporarily unable to eat through the mouth or throat. This usually lasts about two weeks. Thirdly, in terms of routine postoperative care, patients should not stay in bed for an extended period. Prolonged bed rest can increase the risk of developing bedsores or vascular thrombosis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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T2N0M0 in throat cancer indicates stage 2 cancer.

Patients with mid-stage laryngeal cancer generally have a less severe condition and the scope of the lesion is relatively limited. In terms of treatment, most patients can opt for surgical removal. It is recommended to undergo a radical resection. After the surgery, based on the pathology lab results and the doctor's clinical experience, some patients might also need to consider undergoing radiation therapy. This serves as an adjunct treatment that can reduce the likelihood of recurrence. However, some patients might achieve good therapeutic results with just the surgery alone. After treatment, regular follow-up visits are necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and to check for any local recurrence or distant metastasis.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Pre-cancerous symptoms of throat cancer

Laryngeal cancer is a common disease in otolaryngology and a type of malignant tumor, which is divided into primary laryngeal cancer and secondary laryngeal cancer. The main clinical symptoms of laryngeal cancer in its early stages often include hoarseness, cough, and lymph node enlargement, among others. Patients can use indirect laryngoscopy or electronic nasopharyngoscopy to detect tumors located in the pharyngeal area, and a local pathological biopsy can be performed for diagnosis. When the tumor is identified as malignant, it is essential to initiate prompt and active treatment. The common method is to surgically remove the detected tumor to achieve clinical cure.

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Written by Sun Ming Yue
Medical Oncology
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Does throat cancer cause fever?

Patients with throat cancer may develop a fever because the tumor can secrete pyrogens. If pyrogens are released into the bloodstream, they can cause a fever. Another scenario is that throat cancer is accompanied by bacterial or fungal infections, which can also lead to a fever. If the fever is caused by the tumor, using antibiotics alone will not be effective. It is recommended that the patient undergoes active anti-tumor treatment. By effectively controlling the tumor, the body temperature will generally return to normal. If the fever is due to a concurrent infection, anti-inflammatory treatment is advised to effectively control the infection, and the body temperature will gradually return to normal. Therefore, if a patient experiences a fever, it is important to first determine the cause of the fever and then proceed with targeted treatment. Generally, the body temperature will slowly return to normal after treatment.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.