Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of the laryngeal tissue. The larynx is the upper part of the tube (trachea) which connects the oral and nasal cavity to the lungs. Therefore, the larynx plays a crucial role in swallowing, speaking and breathing, which is why a tumor in this area is particularly fatal.

If it is not recognised and treated in time, it spreads to surrounding lymph nodes, resulting in metastases throughout the body, making treatment considerably more difficult.

The causes of laryngeal cancer are multifactorial and not yet fully understood. However, smoking, increased alcohol consumption and HPV infections are known risk factors that can contribute to the development of the disease.

However, factors such as a family history, diet, untreated heartburn or occupational exposure to harmful substances are also considered a risk.

If you suffer from one or more risk factors, you should speak to your doctor about possible screening options in order to recognise and treat a possible carcinoma at an early stage.

Laryngeal cancer can be divided into different subtypes depending on its localisation.
The vocal cords (glottis) are the reference point, which enables a distinction to be made between tumors located above and below the vocal cords.

Depending on the subtype, the frequency of occurrence and symptoms differ significantly and the treatment also varies.

Supraglottic carcinoma is located above the vocal cords and affects the epiglottis, the surrounding cartilage or the pocket folds. It accounts for around a third of laryngeal carcinomas and manifests itself as a feeling of pressure in the throat and later hoarseness.

Due to early metastasis, the five-year survival rate here is just under 60 %.

Glottic carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the area of the vocal fold, which is why it is also known as vocal cord cancer. It accounts for almost two thirds of all laryngeal cancers.

The tumor usually becomes symptomatic quickly and manifests itself as hoarseness, which is why it can be detected and treated early.

Thanks to early detection and rare metastasis, the five-year survival rate here is 90%.

Subglottic carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the area under the vocal cord, involving the subglottis.
It is comparatively rare, accounting for 5% of all laryngeal carcinomas, but treatment is difficult and the tumor metastasises early.
As a result, the five-year survival rate is only 50 %.

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma affects the tissue of the lower pharynx, which is the “tube” behind the larynx, going towards the stomach. This carcinoma is considered to be very aggressive, as it spreads to the lymphatic system very early on.

Symptoms include slight swallowing difficulties and a foreign body sensation, with hoarseness occurring later on.

Due to its rapid growth, the five-year survival rate is only around 30%, even if it is detected early.

Depending on which part of the larynx is affected by the carcinoma, the symptoms can vary slightly and become noticeable at different times.

The first signs are often persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or a feeling of pressure in the throat.

If these symptoms occur without any recognisable background or last longer, an examination should be carried out to rule out laryngeal cancer.

Symptoms in the early stages, symptoms in the final stage
The symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary considerably depending on the subtype and stage.

In the early stages, the main symptoms are hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and slight breathing restrictions, which are often associated with a cold.

In the later course of the disease and in the final stage, swelling of the lymph nodes, bloody sputum, pain, weight loss and severe swallowing and breathing difficulties can occur.

It is therefore important to be alert at the first signs so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as quickly as possible.

Treatment for laryngeal cancer typically consists of surgical removal of the tumor followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This is to reduce the likelihood of recurrence and treat any metastases that may have occurred.

However, hyperthermia and complementary mistletoe therapy are also becoming increasingly popular, as they can contribute to better treatment success.

We take a closer look at the individual treatments below.

Laryngectomy is a surgical procedure in which the larynx is completely removed and an artificial opening is created in the neck through which the patient can breathe in and out.

As the procedure requires special aftercare, patients have to learn to speak again and the quality of life will be permanently restricted, the treatment decision should be carefully considered and only carried out in the case of advanced tumors.

If a laryngectomy can be avoided, partial resection is the method of choice. In most of these partial resection cases, the function of speech production and swallowing is preserved and no permanent artificial throat opening is required for breathing.

The disadvantage, however, is that residues of the tumor can remain in the throat and recur. It must therefore always be decided per individual case which procedure is more appropriate.

Radiotherapy is an effective treatment option for laryngeal cancer, especially in the early stages or as a complementary treatment after surgery to reduce the recurrence rate.

The tumor is exposed to high-energy radiation, which provokes mutations in the tumor cells and leads to the death of the cells.

In most cases, only temporary side effects occur and the therapy can be carried out non-invasively and is therefore gentle on the patient.

Hyperthermia is used to make radiotherapy and chemotherapy more effective by weakening the carcinoma cells with a heat stimulus before the main treatment and then making them more sensitive to the main treatment.

Careful planning and implementation by a specialised medical team are crucial to achieve the best possible results. If you are interested, speak to your doctor (or with one of our experienced doctors) to find out if the treatment is suitable in your case.

[Conservative thermochemoradiation therapy of locally advanced laryngeal cancer]

Combined chemoradiotherapy with local microwave hyperthermia for treatment of T3N0 laryngeal carcinoma: a retrospective study with long-term follow-up

The case for mistletoe in the treatment of laryngeal cancer

Mistletoe therapy is another method that can be used to support primary therapy (such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy) in order to improve its effectiveness and enable a better quality of life for patients during treatment.

Mistletoe extract is administered intravenously or orally to achieve tumor-suppressing and immune system-strengthening effects and thus support primary therapy.

If you are interested in the treatment, you should consult your physician to include mistletoe therapy in your cancer treatment.

Laryngeal cancer is a tumor disease that often occurs between the ages of 55 and 75. The average age of onset is 67 years.

In addition, men are affected four times more frequently than women.

The individual chances of cure and survival depend heavily on the subtype of the tumor, the therapy, the stage and the general health of the person affected and can vary considerably from the prognoses given here.

In general, the 5-year survival rate for early stages is 70-90%, which is very good, and a complete cure can be achieved.

In late stages, where metastasis has progressed accordingly, the 5-year survival rate drops to around 30-50% and a complete cure is rather rare.

In all cases, it is crucial to limit risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption after treatment in order to achieve the best chances of survival.

A diagnosis of laryngeal cancer is usually accompanied by many unanswered questions for the patient. In the following, we would like to address the most important ones and provide brief answers.

If any questions remain unanswered, you should not hesitate to consult your doctor.

The information listed contains relevant topics and serves to improve understanding.