Symptoms
Since tracheal cancer is usually not a primary tumor, but is already caused as a spread, symptoms often appear in advanced tumor stages. This often means that the cancer is not diagnosed until later. The symptoms can particularly occur when degenerative tissue grows into the trachea from the surrounding neighboring organs.
These include malignant tumors of the larynx, cancer of the lower throat, esophageal cancer and thyroid cancer. The patient’s clinical symptoms can be manifold. Typically, coughing is more frequent and becomes chronic, i.e. more than 6 months.
It may also be interspersed with blood and may occur with varying consistency and characteristics. Many patients report an increasing difficulty in breathing up to shortness of breath and/or clearly audible whistling sounds. This is known as dyspnoea, which can be caused by narrowing of the airways.
Depending on the size and location of the tumor, disturbances in voice formation or swallowing can also occur as the tumor crosses the boundaries of the organs on the trachea side and significantly impairs the function of the glottis or esophagus. Accordingly, hoarseness can also occur. In addition to these organ-related symptoms, which are directly caused by the tumor, the characteristic symptoms of cancer can also occur.
In general, the term B- symptomatology includes weight loss, fever and fatigue. Patients often suffer from loss of appetite and nausea as well as a progressive reduction in performance. In addition, skin changes such as itching can also occur. Last but not least, the affected person is immunocompromised and can fall ill more quickly with secondary infections. Due to the wide range of symptoms that can occur, in most cases the general condition is poor.
Therapy
The treatment of a cancer disease is often extensive and interdisciplinary. This means that doctors from different specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, cancer specialists (oncology) and also psychotherapists and nurses form a team to provide optimal care. They consult each other about the best options for the patient.
The therapy depends on the size and type of tumor and must also be individually adapted to the already advanced stage of the disease.Depending on the cell type, the degenerated tissue responds differently well to radiation and/or chemotherapy. Since in most cases metastasis has already occurred, surgical removal followed by chemotherapy is only suitable in rare cases. In such cases, the palliative care of the patient is the main focus.
The aim is to relieve the patient of pain and to maintain or improve the quality of life as much as possible. It is particularly important in the case of tracheal cancer to keep the airways open so that the patient does not get into a situation of breathlessness. To ensure this, the tumor can be reduced in size using a laser.
In extreme cases, a tracheotomy may also be necessary. Chemotherapy can lead to the so-called ANE syndrome – the treatment leads to strenuous side effects such as loss of appetite (anorexia), nausea and vomiting. A concomitant therapy of these symptoms is necessary to provide the patient with a more comfortable therapy and to prevent an early discontinuation of the chemotherapy.
Drugs against nausea and a well-adapted pain therapy are an essential part of treatment in cancer medicine (oncology). In addition to the drug therapy, psychotherapeutic support should be offered to the patient. The course of the disease and the treatment exerts a lot of stress and interventions regarding the processing of the disease and the coping with everyday life can have a positive effect on the handling of the disease and finally on the further course. The aim is to ensure the quality of life and to support and strengthen the patient in his or her own resources.
