Understanding Laryngeal Cancer
Laryngeal cancer is considered a type of head and neck cancer. It forms in the tissues of the larynx, sometimes referred to as your voice box. This is the part of the throat between the base of the tongue and the trachea (windpipe). The larynx contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them so you can talk.
There are three main parts of the larynx:
Supraglottis: The upper part of the larynx above the vocal cords, including the epiglottis, which is the flap that covers the trachea when swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs
Glottis: The middle part of the larynx where the vocal cords are located
Subglottis: The lower part of the larynx between the vocal cords and the trachea (windpipe)
Most laryngeal cancers form in squamous cells, the thin, flat cells lining the inside of the larynx.
Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Available in Brevard County
If you have been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer or another type of head and neck cancer, the experts at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard are ready to help. We have cancer centers available throughout Brevard County, including Melbourne, Rockledge, Merrit Island, and Palm Bay, FL.