The larynx is the medical term for the voice box. It is made of cartilage and soft tissue and sits on top of the wind pipe. The vocal cords are located in the larynx, and open when we breathe, and close when we speak. The larynx also helps to keep food from going into the windpipe when we swallow.
Cancer can strike in many different parts of the voice box.
The typical person who develops cancer of the larynx is a man in his fifties or sixties who has a history of heavy smoking and sometimes, heavy drinking . Persistent hoarseness that gets worse over time is the most common symptom. Other common symptoms may include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, coughing, and even earaches. The treatment of a cancer in the larynx depends on how large it is, and what part of the voice box is involved. Small cancers can usually be treated with radiation therapy , laser surgery, or partial removal of the voice box.