How Can Speech Therapy Help With Laryngeal Cancer?

Have you been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer?

If so, this can be an overwhelming and scary experience, you don’t have to go through it alone.

Speech therapy can help address any speech or swallowing problems you may have before, during, and after your cancer treatment.

At Sol Speech & Language Therapy, we can help you communicate more effectively if your voice has been impacted by laryngeal cancer.

In today’s article, we’re going to look at what laryngeal cancer is, what to look out for, how to reduce your risk of developing it, and how our speech therapy clinics can help.

Keep reading to learn more.

RECAP: What Is Your Larynx?

In our previous article, we talked about your larynx and it’s effect on your speech.

It’s an interesting part of the body that’s involved in speaking, swallowing, and more.

But here’s a quick recap:

Your larynx is also known as your voice box.

It’s a part of your respiratory system that helps you speak and breathe.

Your larynx is a short hollow tube located inside your neck, above your trachea and esophagus.

Your larynx is responsible for opening and closing the glottis, which is an opening located between your two vocal folds.

This allows your larynx to funnel air down into your lungs so that you can breathe.

Furthermore, your vocal folds are responsible for allowing you to produce sounds and speech.

Your larynx is made up of three different parts, which are the:

• Supraglottis
• Glottis
• Subglottis

All of these parts contain their own different types of muscles, cartilages, and nerves.

These components help to create the structures of the different parts of your larynx.

They also help your brain coordinate actions with your larynx and enable it to perform specific tasks, such as swallowing, speaking, and breathing.

What Is Laryngeal Cancer?

Laryngeal cancer is cancer that affects your larynx.

It occurs when cancer cells grow uncontrollably inside your larynx and attack surrounding tissues.

Laryngeal cancer can affect any of the main parts of your larynx.

It most commonly affects your supraglottis.

On the other hand, subglottal cancer is the rarest.

Laryngeal cancer can significantly affect your voice and speaking ability, among other things.

How To Know If You Have Laryngeal Cancer?

There are a number of signs and symptoms that may indicate you have laryngeal cancer.

Signs and symptoms of laryngeal cancer may include:

• Changes in your voice
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty speaking clearly
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent ear pain
• Weight loss
• Persistent cough or sore throat
• Feeling like there’s a lump in your neck or throat
• Difficulty with eating, drinking, and swallowing

Most of the symptoms of laryngeal cancer aren’t specific to it, so it’s important to monitor your symptoms and see a doctor if you experience new symptoms that are persistent.

What Causes Laryngeal Cancer?

Laryngeal cancer occurs when mutated cells grow uncontrollably in your larynx.

While the exact cause of these growths isn’t clear, there are a number of risk factors that can contribute to the development of laryngeal cancer.

Some potential factors that can lead to laryngeal cancer can include:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Excessive tobacco use
• Gastroesophageal acid reflux (GERD)
• A weakened immune system
• A diet low in nutritional value
• Exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Exposure to toxic substances

How To Lower Your Risk Of Laryngeal Cancer?

It’s important to remember that not all laryngeal cancers are preventable.

However, you can lower your risk of developing laryngeal cancer by avoiding certain risk factors that can contribute to it.

Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Avoid Tobacco And Alcohol

Alcohol and tobacco are the most significant causes of laryngeal cancer.

However, they’re also the most preventable.

If you smoke, quit.

Secondhand smoke also exposes you to the dangerous toxins of tobacco, so try to avoid situations where you may come in contact with it.

Drinking alcohol excessively is also a risk factor.

Furthermore, it increases the potential effect that tobacco smoke has on causing laryngeal cancer.

Avoiding tobacco and drinking alcohol only in moderation can help lower your risk of developing laryngeal cancer.

2. Avoid Workplace Exposure To Toxic Substances

Depending on the type of work you do, you may be exposed to toxic substances, such as soot or paint fumes.

These harmful substances can increase your risk of developing laryngeal cancer when inhaled.

Proper workplace ventilation is important to reduce your risk.

As well, make sure to use proper PPE (personal protective equipment) on the job.

3. Protect Yourself From HPV

There may be a link between HPV and the development of laryngeal cancer.

You can lower your risk of developing HPV by applying safer sex practices and keeping your immune system healthy.

Furthermore, getting the HPV vaccine can help protect you from contracting the virus, and may also help reduce the risk of laryngeal cancer and other cancers that are associated with HPV.

4. Eat A Healthy Diet

Poor nutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and being overweight are all risk factors associated with laryngeal cancer.

Eating a healthy, well balanced diet may help lower your risk of developing laryngeal cancer, among many other health benefits.

Focus on eating lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and limiting the amount of processed and sugary foods you consume.

A healthy diet can keep your body and immune system function optimally and help protect you from developing a number of health problems.

How Can A Speech Therapist Help With Laryngeal Cancer?

A speech therapist can help address any speech and swallowing difficulties you may have before, during, and after your cancer treatment.

The aim of speech therapy for laryngeal cancer is to find ways to strengthen your voice and allow you to communicate more effectively.

Depending on the type of cancer you have, a speech therapist will talk to you about how surgery will change your larynx.

After surgery you may not be able to talk in the same way.

A speech therapist can provide you with non speaking communication strategies so that you can still communicate with those around you.

Also, speech therapists can help you speak more clearly by learning to use devices and strategies, if needed, such as:

• Artificial larynx/electrolarynx
• Esophageal speech
• Tracheoesophageal puncture

Book Your Appointment With Sol Speech And Language Therapy Today

Having a laryngeal cancer diagnosis can be alarming.

You may worry about how it will affect your speech and what you can do to communicate more effectively.

The good news is that speech therapy can help.

At Sol Speech & Language Therapy we can help address any speech issue you may have as a result of laryngeal cancer and help you continue to communicate clearly.

Book your appointment with Sol Speech & Language Therapy today.