Anadolu Health Center Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul gave information about throat cancer. Stating that laryngeal cancer, which is seen at older ages, has also started to be seen in younger adults in Turkey in recent years, Anadolu Health Center Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul said, "However, in laryngeal cancer, which is especially common in men in Turkey, survival rates can reach up to 90 percent with early diagnosis."
Underlining that the most typical symptom of laryngeal cancer is persistent hoarseness, Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul said, “In addition to hoarseness, symptoms such as hoarseness, difficulty in breathing, swallowing disorder and sometimes a mass in the neck can be seen. The occasional swallowing disorder is considered by experts as an important indicator of the enlargement of the tumor. However, some patients may apply to the doctor with the complaint of a mass in the neck as the first symptom.
Stating that cough may be one of the symptoms of laryngeal cancer, Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul said, "We can say that cough is one of the patient's complaints in advanced stage and enlarged tumors."
Noting that in the treatment of laryngeal cancer, a path is followed according to the stage of the cancer, Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul said, “When surgery or radiotherapy is used in early-stage tumors, the patient is comprehensively informed about the most appropriate treatment option and the treatment is started with an option suitable for the patient's characteristics. If the tumor is in an advanced stage, surgical treatment is applied to the patient, followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy, while in some cases, non-surgical radiotherapy or chemotherapy is applied and successful results are obtained. In these treatment plans, considering the condition of the tumor, other comorbidities of the patient, and patient preference, a joint decision is made by the tumor board, and treatment options are presented and applied to the patient.
Emphasizing that early diagnosis is very important in laryngeal cancer, as in all cancers, Prof. Dr. Evren Erkul said, “When the tumor is caught and treated at an early stage, the survival rate reaches 90 percent. Of course, the experience of doctors in Turkey in this field, and the tremendous developments in surgical techniques and chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the last 15 years have a large share in this. There is a risk of recurrence in laryngeal cancer. This risk is higher, especially in advanced-stage tumors. However, even in the case of recurrence, we can say that there is a serious survival rate with early diagnosis. For this reason, it is vital that patients do not be late when the cancer recurs, and that they do not disrupt their regular follow-ups. If there is a persistent hoarseness, swallowing disorder, neck mass, cough and shortness of breath accompanying, if the patient smokes tobacco and the patient is over 40 years old, an otolaryngologist should be consulted without delay.