Asbestos Fibers can Cause Cancer of the Larynx
Asbestos causes harm wherever it goes, including the larynx or voice box. Cancer of the larynx, or laryngeal cancer, can start when you inhale or swallow asbestos fibers that lodge in the larynx. If you’re diagnosed with this cancer and were exposed to asbestos in the past, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffer.
What is a Larynx?
The larynx is part of the respiratory system, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It’s a hollow tube that lets air pass from your throat to your trachea to your lungs. Your larynx enables you to make sounds, talk, and sing.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber occurring in rock and soil. Because of its strength and resistance to heat, fire, electricity, and corrosion, asbestos has been used in as many as 3,000 products over centuries. It was used as insulation, a fire retardant, in vehicle parts, and as an additive in many products to strengthen and make them more durable.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos fibers are incredibly light, so they can float in the air for a long time after an asbestos product is installed, disturbed, or removed. Anyone in the area may ingest or inhale them. Because they’re so strong and durable, fibers can remain in a person’s body for the rest of their life.
Over time, the immune system will try and fail to destroy the fibers, resulting in scar tissue and inflammation. Over years or decades, the surrounding tissue can mutate and become malignant. Asbestos causes many types of cancer, including mesotheliomas and laryngeal cancer.
What is Laryngeal Cancer?
Cancer affecting your larynx occurs after cells in it reproduce uncontrollably. As these cells multiply, they invade healthy tissues and harm your body, reports the Cleveland Clinic. Laryngeal cancer can form in the three main parts of the larynx:
- Supraglottis (upper part): Slightly more than a third of three laryngeal cancers (35%) develop here
- Glottis (middle part): This is where your vocal cords are located, and more than half (60%) of these cancers start here
- Subglottis (lower part): About 5% of laryngeal cancers begin here
About 12,500 cases of laryngeal cancer are diagnosed in the US annually, and it kills about 4,000 people annually. Asbestos-related laryngeal cancer is more likely to occur if you are heavily exposed to asbestos. Smoking tobacco and excessively drinking alcohol are also risk factors, according to the National Library of Medicine.
How is Laryngeal Cancer Treated?
The following treatment types are considered standard for laryngeal cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Standard treatments include:
- Radiation: This uses high-energy X-rays or other radiation types to kill or prevent cancer cells from growing. This approach may work better in those who stopped smoking before starting treatment
- Surgery: This involves physically removing the cancer and the surrounding tissues. There are different approaches where part or all of the larynx may be surgically taken out. Depending on the surgery, you may be unable to speak afterward. Radiation or chemotherapy may follow surgery to try to ensure cancer cells have been removed or killed
- Chemotherapy: Drugs are used to kill cancer cells or to prevent them from dividing. They may be injected into a vein or taken orally.
- Immunotherapy: This treatment involves restoring, boosting, or directing the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer. Substances made in the body or a laboratory are used
Which treatment is best for you depends on the following:
- The disease’s stage
- The tumor’s size and location
- The desire to maintain your ability to eat, talk, and breathe as normally as possible
- Whether the cancer has recurred or returned
After diagnosis, you should discuss with your oncologist which treatment approach offers you the best chances of success with the least side effects.
Call Us Today for A Free Consultation
If you have laryngeal cancer or another asbestos-related illness you may be entitled to compensation. To discuss your situation and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help, call our Louisville office toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.