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

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 09, 2025
00:00
00:00

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

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 9sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
48sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
51sec home-news-image

Throat cancer coughing up blood, what is going on?

Patients with laryngeal cancer may experience bleeding due to the rupture of local tumors. The surface tissue of tumors that develop in laryngeal cancer is relatively fragile, and may rupture and cause bleeding during stimuli such as eating or coughing. When these symptoms occur, it is crucial to visit a hospital for medical consultation immediately. Examinations like indirect laryngoscopy and electronic nasopharyngoscopy can help confirm the patient's symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis. Under the guidance of a physician, hemostatic drugs, antibiotics, and hormones can be used for temporary symptomatic treatment. Patients with laryngeal cancer should be detected and treated early, undergo surgery as soon as possible, and receive radiation and chemotherapy to ensure their survival.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
45sec home-news-image

Can throat cancer be cured?

Throat cancer is a relatively common malignant tumor in the head and neck area. Some patients can achieve clinical cure, which generally means no local recurrence or distant metastasis for 5 years after the end of treatment. However, the specific treatment outcomes can vary significantly among individuals. Generally, early-stage throat cancer has better treatment outcomes and a higher 5-year survival rate. If it's in the middle to late stages, throat cancer tends to be more difficult to treat and the outcomes are poorer. Therefore, it's important to seek prompt treatment from an otolaryngologist after the onset of the disease, receive targeted treatment, and undergo regular follow-ups to monitor the efficacy of the treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

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.