Prolonged hoarseness can be a symptom of laryngeal cancer, an oncologist explains

Dr. Ramón Andrade de Mello says the disease is more common in smokers and regular drinkers

Prolonged symptoms of hoarseness, which do not recede for more than two or three weeks in smokers and habitual alcohol users, deserve detailed investigation. “These may be signs of laryngeal cancer, a disease with a 90% chance of being cured, with early diagnosis,” explains oncologist Ramón Andrade de Mello, Professor of Clinical Oncology for MD at Universidade Novi de Gulho (Uninove) in São Paulo, and Honorary Clinical Researcher in the Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, UK.

The disease is usually diagnosed in men over the age of forty, and it is one of the most common tumors that affect the head and neck region, and it represents 25% of cancers that affect this region. “In addition to hoarseness, the patient may feel resistance to swallowing and feel a lump in the throat. Already in the more advanced stages, the person may have difficulty breathing and feel short of breath, ”explains Ramón Andrade de Mello.

According to a 2020 estimate by the National Cancer Institute (Inca), the country will have 7,650 new cases that year, with most of the records (6,470) being among the general population. “It is necessary to eliminate the risk factors, that is, to stop consuming alcohol and tobacco. The oncologist says that patients who continue to follow these habits increase the chances of a second tumor appearing in the head and neck region.

Ramon Andrade de Mello explains that the treatment depends on the diagnosis of each patient, who can undergo surgery, followed or not by radiotherapy and chemotherapy: “For each case, the specialist can adopt a specific strategy. The important thing is that early diagnosis is made, which increases the chances of recovery ” .

About Ramon Andrade de Melo

Ramón Andrade de Melo received his Doctorate (PhD) in Molecular Oncology from the University of Porto Medical School (Portugal), post doctorate in Clinical Research at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust (England).

The doctor holds the title of Specialist in Clinical Oncology, Portuguese Ministry of Health and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO). In addition, Ramón is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (USA) and National Coordinator of Clinical Oncology at the Brazilian Society of Oncology, and a member of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK, in the Educational Committee on Gastrointestinal Oncology (ESMO College GI of the European Society of Medical Oncology). (ESMO), member of the advisory board of the European School of Oncology (ESO) and former member of the Education Committee for Upper Gastrointestinal Oncology (term 2016-2019) of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Dr. Ramon de Mello is an oncologist on the clinical staff at Israelta Albert Einstein Hospital, in São Paulo, and at the Unimed Diagnostic Center, in Bauru, SP.

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