Lung Cancer and Hoarseness
Hoarseness is the first symptom of lung cancer
Lung cancer is a type of cancer that is difficult to treat when detected late. Smoking is the most important risk factor. But it can also be seen in non-smokers. Catching the disease early is the most important way to get rid of the disease completely. When detected early, it is possible to surgically remove the disease so that no disease is left behind. In addition, new generation smart cancer drugs have made it easier to cope with the disease.
In order to treat the disease, it is important to watch the signs carefully. Lung cancer has many symptoms. These include a new cough, blood in the cough and chest pain. In addition, hoarseness that starts for no apparent reason can also be a sign of lung cancer. This condition causes complaints such as a weaker voice, inability to breathe while speaking, inability to be heard in crowded noisy places, and water in the throat while drinking water. These complaints should be taken into consideration and the underlying cause should be identified at the first opportunity. It should be made sure that there is no condition that can cause vocal cord paralysis such as lung cancer. For this reason, if new-onset hoarseness does not go away within 3 weeks, an ear, nose and throat examination is a must.
How does lung cancer cause hoarseness?
People with lung cancer may have hoarseness for different reasons. After the nerve of our vocal cord leaves our brain, it travels down to the level of the lungs and then returns to our neck. During this long journey, a disease in the lung can push and squeeze it. As a result, the movement of the vocal cord is affected and hoarseness begins. For this reason, a vocal cord examination is necessary in all patients with new onset of hoarseness.
Apart from the fact that lung cancer directly affects the vocal cord nerve, these patients may have hoarseness for other reasons. Vocal cord paralysis may occur after surgery to diagnose lung cancer or after lung surgery to remove the disease from the lung. The reason for this vocal cord paralysis is that the vocal cord nerve may be damaged during surgery. This is often inevitable if the cancer tissue is close to the nerve.
Hoarseness due to lung cancer can heal spontaneously if the nerve is not too damaged. If recovery occurs, it will happen within the first 1 year. It is possible to relieve hoarseness in patients who do not recover or in patients waiting for recovery.
How is hoarseness due to lung cancer treated?
Hoarseness can be eliminated in these patients by vocal cord filling, which is the most up-to-date and practical treatment of vocal cord paralysis. This procedure can now be performed in an outpatient clinic without putting the patient to sleep.
It is possible to do it under conditions. When it is done in this way, both the patient regains his/her voice immediately and is protected from the risks of surgery. As an alternative to vocal cord filling, vocal cord implant surgery can also be performed. These treatments can be performed easily and safely even while the patient is receiving chemotherapy or oxygen support.
With both methods, it is possible to correct patients’ hoarseness. In this way, it is again possible to have a stronger, tireless, easily heard voice.