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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-03-29, Page 22Pella le Difficulty swallowing? persistent hoarseness?.. • • from page 9 ficulty and pain in breathing or swallowing and even earaches. In these instances hoarseness may not develop until much later, if at all. Any of the above conditions that last more thail two weeks should be checked by a doctor. The first step in diagnosing laryngeal cancer is usually made in the doctor's office. By using an instrument that resembles a dentist's mirror with a long handle, he can detect most tumors of the larynx. If cancer is suspected, the doctor will perform a biopsy. It is a simple procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the suspected area and sent to a pathologist for microscopic examination. This is the only way to determine if cancer cells are present.. X-ray and fluoroscopic examinations are also used to determine the actual size, extent and effect of the tumor. Correct treatment for each individual is dic- tated by the particular characteristics of the case, especially the exact site, size and type of tumor as well as the patient's general health. As in most cancers the two main types of treatment are radiation and surgery. Surgery, or a com- bination of surgery and radiation, is generally used for the more ad- vanced cases. The radiotherapist and the surgeon evaluate all the factors and together prescribe the proper program of treatment, In two-thirds of the cases, the patient is able. ,to retain the larynx. Experience has shown that radiation therapy is the best treatment for the early, confined, laryngeal tumor. The basic principle of radiation therapy is to bombard a cancer with rays at doses which damage or destroy the cancer yet produce only minimum damage to the surrounding normal tissues. Skin reactions, nausea, vomitting, a feeling of tiredness can be side effects of radiation. Rest v This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following CHIIMPION CHAMPION ROAD MACHINERY SALES LTD. SIFTO SALT A DIVISION OF D.OMTAR LTD. TUCKEY PEPSI BEVERAGES HURON PARK DAVE HAYLOW ELECTRICAL Serving Industrial, Commercial, Residential Needs 524-6038 and good nutrition help the body recover more quickly. Surgical treatment may require removal of only one vocal cord, which means that the ability to speak is not lost - although the _sound is altered. In some cases, a more radical procedure - a laryngectomy - is performed. This operation involves the permanent loss of both vocal cords and, therefore, the power of speech. When the larynx, which is the uppermost part of the trachea - or windpipe - is removed, no con- nection remains between the mouth and the lungs. In order to get air into and out of the lungs, the surgeon creates an opening, called a stoma, in the lower part of the neck. The patient who has had the larynx removed is called a laryngec- tomee. The patient is able to eat and drink normally but must breathe, cough and sneeze through the neck opening. Because air inhaled through ',the stoma goes directly to the lungs, the l,aryngectomeehis advised to avoid jobs or activities that involve extreme heat or cold or gases, fumes, or dusts. He is also unable to swim since there is nothing to stop the water from flowing through the stoma into his lungs. The laryngectomee loses much of the senses of taste and smell (although these return to some extent in time),, is unable to sing or laugh out loud and because there is no way of tem- porarily locking in his or her breath, may be unable to lift heavy loads. The greatest loss, of course, is the ability to speak. But laryngec- tomees can learn to speak again. Cancer of the larynx has an encouragingly high cure rate. This is because signs and symptoms appear at a very early stage of the disease when the tumor is small, localized and easily treatable. As is true in most forms of the disease; the out- come of laryngeal cancer depends almost entirely on how early it is discovered and treatment is begun. If diagnosed and treated in its localized stage, there is an overall five-year survival rate of about 80 percent and a ten-year survival rate of almost 75 percent. More than 50 percent of patients diagnosed at all stages are alive after being treated. If begun and treated in its localized stage, there is an overall five-year survival rate of about 80 percent and a ten-year survival rate of almost 75 percent. More than 50 percent of patients diagnosed at all stages are alive five years after being treated. REHABILITATION Most laryngectomees can learn to. speak again through a technique known as esophageal speech. The laryngectomee is taught to swallow air and force it into the esophagus by locking the tongue to the roof of the mouth. When the air is expelled, it causes the walls of the esophagus and the pharynx to vibrate. This in turn vibrates the column of air in the passages, causing a low-pitched sound. It is this sound that is formed into words with the patient's tongue, lips, teeth and palate. At least two-thirds of all laryngectomees are successful in learning esophageal speechi Some learn recognizable speech in a few weeks, others may take months or a year. The technique can be learned even by patients who have been speechless for years. A number of laryngec- tomees have been able to resume their careers as telephone operators, speech teachers and salesmen - areas in which speech is the most im- portant requisite. For patients who are. unable or unwilling to learn this new way of speaking, there are a number of artificial devices available to create a voice box for them, including an electronic larynx and a mechanical prosthesis that fits into the stoma and uses exhaled air to create a voice. There are also electronic amplifiers for persons whose esophageal speech is not loud enough. There exists a nationwide network of volunteers to help new laryngectomees cope „mar.'" / " z;:�' nasal passage larynx airway tongue esophagus trachea (windpipe) with and overcome the emotional and physical trauma of their surgery. These volunteers have themselves had laryngectomies and are members of Lost Chord, Anamilo or . New Voice Clubs. More than 260 of the clubs are members of the International Asso°ci.ation of Laryngectomees,- ' an affiliate of the American Cancer Society. I.A.L. members help to teach new laryngectomy patients how to, talk, how to shower, how to dress and how to resume their previous lifestyles as quickly as possible. The volunteers are living proof that "successful rehabilitation is possible after a laryngectomy. At the request of a physician, an I.A.L. volunteer will visit a new laryngectomee in the hospital, bringing a kit with an assortment of basic aids, plus in- formative and inspiring literature. A further service provided by the American Cancer Society for laryngectomy patients is free in- struction in esophageal speech. In most cases, these courses are taught by a professional speech pathologist, who may also work with local club members who have mastered the technique. Chester Archibald, left, Clinton branch campaign chairman, goes over the canvasser's kits with campaign vice-chairman, Gerry Holmes. (News -Record photo) Great Ride for Cancer (Bike-a-thon) Sunday, April 22nd (rain date Sun. May 6th) Registration: 12-1:30 P.M. SUNCOAST MALL 20 KILOMETRES Sponsored by the Kinsmen and Kinettes. Sponsor sheets available at all financial institutions in town. RIDE BEGINS AT 2 P.M.