Laryngeal cancer
Diagnosis and tests
Diagnosing laryngeal cancer
Your family doctor (GP) will talk to you about your symptoms. Your GP will refer you to hospital if they think you need more tests. Tests you might have include:
This test uses a thin flexible tube with a light at one end. Your doctor puts the tube into your nose and down into your throat. He or she will spray your throat with local anaesthetic before putting the tube in. This will numb your throat and make the test more comfortable for you.
This is an exam of your larynx under general anaesthetic. It is like a nasendoscopy. It allows your doctor to have a closer look at your larynx. If your doctor sees any abnormal changes during the laryngoscopy, they can take a biopsy. This is a small sample of the tissue. It is removed and sent to a lab and examined under a microscope to see if the sample contains cancer cells.
If you are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, we're here for you.
Our cancer nurses are here if you need information or just want to talk. They can help you to understand your diagnosis and what to expect, send you information and tell you about our services.
Further tests for laryngeal cancer
You may need further tests to give your doctors more information about your general health and about the cancer. For example:
A special type of X-ray to give a picture of the tissues inside your body.
Read more about CT scans.
This is a scan that uses magnetic energy to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body. During the scan you will lie inside a tunnel-like machine.
Read more about MRI scans.
Using a radioactive injection that will show up any cancer spread to other parts of your body on a scan picture.
Read more about PET scans.
This test allows your surgeon to examine your larynx more clearly. A thin metal tube with a light on the end (laryngoscope) is passed down your throat. A microscope can be attached to the end of the tube to magnify the larynx to make it easier to examine. You’ll have a general anaesthetic for this test.
The tests you have can help to:
- Stage your cancer. This means finding out the size and position of the cancer.
- Grade your cancer. Grading describes how quickly the cancer may grow and spread and how it might respond to treatment.
Some tests may be used see how you are responding to treatment.
Waiting for test results
While some results may come back quickly, others may take a few weeks. Waiting for results can be an anxious time. It may help to talk things over with your doctor or nurse or with a relative or close friend. You can also call our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or visit a Daffodil Centre to speak to a cancer nurse.
What are the stages of laryngeal cancer?
Staging means finding out how big the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of your body. Staging will help your doctor to plan the best treatment for you.
The staging system normally used in laryngeal cancer is called TNM. This stands for:
- Tumour (T): How deeply has the tumour grown into the laryngx?
- Node (N): Is there cancer in your lymph nodes?
- Metastasis (M): Has the cancer has spread to other parts of your body?
Your doctor often uses this information to give your cancer a number stage – from 1 to 4. A higher number means a more advanced cancer:
The cancer cells are in one part of the larynx. The vocal cords can move normally.
The tumour has grown from where it started into another part of the larynx.
The cancer has spread throughout the larynx but not outside it. One of the vocal cords can't move.
The cancer has spread outside the larynx into the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. It may have spread to other parts of the body.
Knowing the stage of your cancer helps your team to plan the best treatment for you.
What are the grades of laryngeal cancer?
Grading describes how quickly the cancer may grow and spread.
The cancer cells look only slightly abnormal, much like normal laryngeal cells. The cancer is usually slow growing and less likely to spread than high-grade laryngeal cancer.
The cancer cells look fairly or very abnormal and are more likely to grow quickly. Carcinoma in situ (CIS) is always classed as high grade.
Staging and grading can be hard to understand, so ask your doctor and nurse for more information if you need it.
Continue reading about laryngeal cancer




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