Voice Box Problems and How They Affect Your Voice
Laryngeal cancer, also known as a laryngeal neoplasm, is when cancer starts in the voice box
It is an extremely rare form of throat, head and neck cancer. The voice box is the tissue that covers the back of the mouth, just below the upper lip. When you swallow, the vocal cords close and a thin mucous tissue called the epiglottis ligament, or uvula, closes over your throat.
Some cancers of the larynx are found in the throat or tonsils. These cancers usually grow on the back of the tongue and in the throat. However, many cancers of the larynx develop elsewhere, such as the vocal cords or uvula.
Vocal cord cancer develops on the vocal folds of the throat and head. Cancer often affects the vocal cords lining the uvula and vocal cords. These folds are also the sound-absorbing part of your body. When these folds become cancerous, they can cause discomfort in the throat and head.
The uvula and vocal cords are made up of cartilage and bone and have two small holes in them. When the uvula becomes inflamed by cancer, it can make a clicking or ringing sound. Cancer often spreads to the uvula and vocal cords from the base of the pharynx to the vocal cords.
Some people may notice a lump in their throat or head if cancer has spread to vocal folds. There may be some pain in this area, but it usually goes away after a few days. If there is pain, doctors will likely order tests to determine if it is a tumor or something else. If it's cancer, your doctor may do a procedure called exploratory laparotomy to remove part of your vocal fold to look for cancer.
A uvula may not be affected by the cancer but it will usually go away. This is one reason why doctors often perform a procedure known as a rhinopexade to remove it. from the uvula. During the rhinopexade, a small incision is made through the uvula and the soft uvula bone is removed. The doctor is then able to see if the cancer has spread to the uvula and vocal chords or other parts of the vocal fold.
Vocal cancer occurs in the vocal folds because of an obstruction that is caused by swelling. This is called adenoids, which are small sacs filled with fluid that sit near the back of your throat. In some cases, the uvula may become enlarged. Other times the vocal folds become enlarged because of tumors that lie within them.
Sometimes the laryngeal spongy tissues are scarred during surgery. This means that a surgeon might cut through these tissues to release a liquid that causes the throat to swell, causing a voice box problem. After surgery, the patient will experience some mild or severe pain during breathing and swallowing, as well as difficulty swallowing. Treatment may include taking medicine to relieve the pain.
If you have throat cancer, you should have it removed. Surgery for cancer in the voice box can cause bleeding. Bleeding will usually decrease after surgery. However, it may need to be checked periodically to be sure that the surgery is successful in removing all of the cancer.
If you have laryngeal and vocal cancer, the surgery may be easier because the larynx is located outside of the throat. If you have the surgery on your neck, you need to make a full commitment to your treatment plan to ensure that the surgery is successful. There will be a scar and bruising after surgery and it will take time for recovery. Your recovery will depend on the extent of the damage done to the vocal folds and the type of surgery.
If your voice box or the vocal folds are damaged, your doctor will have to determine the extent of the damage. This may mean removing the vocal fold or tissue and making adjustments to your breathing patterns to restore your voice to normal. In some cases, there may be no surgery and you will not need to get any medications or radiation therapy.
It is important to remember that many of the treatments used for voice box problems are uncomfortable and that you may have to wear a mask to help with the discomfort. Even though surgery can be more effective than a routine checkup, you should still talk to your doctor before trying anything drastic to get the problem looked at. Your doctor will be able to advise you on treatment and recommend the best course of action for your condition.