Laryngeal Cancer

These are malignant tumors that appear on the inner surface of the cartilage box (the larynx), which is located at the front of our neck, just above the windpipe, and contains the vocal cords that allow us to speak.

The biggest and undisputed cause of this disease is the use of cigarettes and tobacco. If excessive alcohol is consumed along with smoking, the risk of laryngeal cancer increases 30 times compared to a normal person. Additionally, the HPV virus and chronic acid reflux are among the risk factors.

If the tumor appears directly on the vocal cords, it gives a very early symptom: HOARSENESS LASTING MORE THAN 3 WEEKS despite not having a cold. A muffled or raspy voice, a feeling of something stuck in the throat when swallowing, a sore throat, and a palpable lump in the neck are other symptoms.

An Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist enters through the patient's nose with a thin, flexible camera (Endoscopy) in an outpatient setting and views the vocal cords and larynx on a screen within seconds. If there is a suspicious mass, a biopsy is taken from there under general anesthesia and sent to pathology.

If the tumor is caught in the early stage, the procedure is performed through the patient's mouth without making any incisions on the neck, and only the tumor is burned away with a Laser (Microlaryngeal Surgery) and removed; the voice is preserved.
If the tumor has grown very large and wrapped around the larynx, the entire larynx is removed (Total Laryngectomy) to save the patient's life. In this case, the patient breathes through a hole opened in their throat (tracheostomy). Because they have lost their vocal cords, they cannot speak; however, with special 'Voice Prostheses' inserted, they are enabled to speak again, albeit in a mechanical/robotic tone.