62-year-old man in Quang Ninh suddenly discovered laryngeal cancer from a sign that many Vietnamese people ignore

Recently, doctors at Bai Chay Hospital said they had successfully performed partial laryngectomy and neck lymph node dissection, helping laryngeal cancer patients in Quang Ninh have more effective treatment options and prolong their lives.

Patient Le VK (62 years old, in Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province) had symptoms of hoarseness for about 1 month, painful swallowing in the neck area, and weight loss. Examination at Bai Chay Hospital showed an ENT endoscopy showing a vocal cord polyp, and MRI and CT scan results showed an image of a contrast-enhanced nodule on the right vocal cord.

The patient underwent biopsy, the pathology results showed squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx stage T2N0M0. The doctors prescribed partial laryngectomy and neck lymph node dissection for the patient.

The surgery performed by the team of Doctor CKI Doan Chien Thang - Oncology Department 2, Bai Chay Hospital removed the tumor and dredged the lymph nodes on both sides of the patient's neck. After the surgery, the patient's health recovered well.

Laryngeal cancer surgery at Bai Chay Hospital. Photo: BVCC

What is laryngeal cancer?

Laryngeal cancer is a malignant disease that originates in the larynx - an organ located between the hypopharynx (base of the tongue) and the esophagus/trachea, which is part of the respiratory system.

Laryngeal cancer often develops silently and is difficult to detect. Most patients often discover the disease when it is in the late stages, cancer cells have spread to surrounding tissues and lymphatics, making the choice of treatment methods more difficult. Patients can be treated with total laryngectomy, lymph node dissection or chemotherapy, radiotherapy. The prognosis, life expectancy, quality of life of the patient and the effectiveness of treatment methods depend largely on early detection of the disease.

Is laryngeal cancer curable?

Laryngeal cancer is one of the cancers of the oral cavity that can be completely surgically removed and can restore good pronunciation. Patients survive 5 years after diagnosis over 70%.

Doctor Doan Chien Thang - Oncology Department 2, Bai Chay Hospital said: "The choice of total or partial laryngectomy depends on the location, size of the tumor and the extent of spread of cancer cells. Partial laryngectomy is the optimal solution indicated in cases of early stage cancer, without distant metastasis, to remove the laryngeal tumor, cut part of the larynx, helping to preserve part of the speech function and have little effect on swallowing function. Due to the difficulty, complexity and depth, this surgical method requires the surgeon to be experienced and perform precise operations to avoid dangerous complications related to partial laryngectomy such as: infection, bleeding, damage to the trachea, esophagus, cancer recurrence...".

Patients are cared for after surgery. Photo: BVCC

Warning signs of laryngeal cancer

For laryngeal cancer, when patients experience symptoms of voice disorders: Hoarse, stiff, persistent voice that lasts for a long time and increases gradually; dry cough, cough with mucus mixed with blood; pain in the neck, in front of the larynx, pain may spread to the ear; discomfort in the throat, feeling like there is a foreign object; difficulty breathing in the larynx when the tumor spreads to cover the larynx; swallowing disorders, sometimes the tumor spreads outside the larynx to the lower throat causing difficulty swallowing, choking, pain, swallowing obstruction... need to go to a medical facility with an oncology department for timely examination and treatment.

Who is at risk for laryngeal cancer?

Laryngeal cancer is common in people over 40 and is more common in men.

Risk factors leading to laryngeal cancer can be identified as: tobacco, alcohol (the combination of alcohol and tobacco has a higher risk), occupational factors (working in chemical factories, mines with nickel, ammonium, chrome, etc.), radiation exposure to the anterior neck area, persistent infections of the oral cavity, ear, nose and throat, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, chronic laryngitis, keratinization, leukoplakia, papilloma of the vocal cords is considered a precancerous condition...

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/nguoi-dan-ong-62-tuoi-o-quang-ninh-bat-ngo-phat-hien-ung-thu-thanh-quan-tu-dau-hieu-nhieu-nguoi-viet-bo-qua-172241228151655132.htm