Mehmet Fidan, who was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer at the age of 51 due to 35 years of smoking, only had a hoarse voice. In the first evaluation, it was said that his throat could be removed due to the location of the tumor, and he could not speak again. Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat and Head and Neck Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan and her team performed the surgery, and Mehmet Fidan lives a healthy life today.

The process in which Mehmet Fidan took his second bend in life started 2.5 years ago. Mehmet Fidan, a 51-year-old long-distance truck driver, was a serious smoker. The only complaint he had about his throat was hoarseness. He did not care at first. However, when they applied to the physician upon the insistence of his wife, they heard the diagnosis that did not even cross their minds: "throat cancer"...

Mehmet Fidan explained this process as follows: "The only problem I experienced was hoarseness. But I had reached a point where I could even be uncomfortable with my voice. Besides, I did not have any pain or soreness. I had no problem eating either. When we went to the doctor on my wife's insistence, we heard unexpected news. This has never occurred to us. As a result of the examinations, they told us that the throat would be removed and that I would not be able to speak again. After that, we reached Zeynep Alkan. 

"It was Fortunate that the Disease was in its Early Stages"

Stating that laryngeal cancer can be frightening for people as in many types of cancer, Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital ENT and Head and Neck Surgery specialist Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan said that it can be treated up to 90 percent when diagnosed at an early stage.

Explaining that Mehmet Fidan was also in the second stage when he was diagnosed, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan gave the following information about the process: "Mehmet Fidan came to us for fear of losing his throat. As a result of our examination, we found that the tumor entered the cartilage from the anterior part of the larynx. It was a tumor that did not provide much opportunity for closed surgery. Therefore, we performed open surgery and removed part of the larynx and the part of the vocal cords that were tumors. During this period, we feed the patient through the nose or stomach to meet their nutritional needs. The hole in his throat was also to provide an airway, and it was closed after a while. After the surgery, there was a rehabilitation process in which we taught the patient to swallow again from the beginning." 

"Laryngeal Cancer is the Only Type of Cancer We Know the Cause of"

Stating that the cause of throat cancer is one of the rare cancers known and the main culprit here is smoking, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan said, " Very few people develop laryngeal cancer without smoking. They are also affected by viruses called HPV, chemical burns called reflux, or genetic factors. But the disease is architectural smoking. The larynx is a somewhat occult organ, not seen in the lung film. Therefore, endoscopes and stroboscopic examinations are very valuable; however, for us, the main stimulus is hoarseness. It is important to evaluate this symptom well and not to neglect it."

Indicating that not only hoarseness but also pain in the ear, the feeling of being stuck in the throat, bleeding from the mouth, or difficulty in swallowing may be symptoms of throat cancer, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan said, "Those who have these symptoms, especially if they smoke and drink alcohol regularly, should contact the physician without losing time." 

"Patients Should Be Evaluated with Their Family in Treatment"

Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan added, stating that the treatments for laryngeal cancer are planned individually, " Treatments may differ depending on whether the patient is young or old, has different underlying diseases, or pursues a profession with his/her voice such as presenter or teacher. Therefore, the patient should be evaluated by their family. It is a process that the patient, the patient's relative, and the physician should decide together."

The Surgical Method Depends on the Patient's Condition 

Stating that surgery is the priority in the treatment of laryngeal cancer, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan gave the following information about the subject: "Radiation therapy for the head and neck region is a method that the patient can receive once in their life. Therefore, it may be necessary to postpone radiation therapy against a possible recurrence. Because some relapses may not allow a second surgery."

Explaining that today they apply different surgical methods in head and neck surgery according to the patient's condition, Prof. Dr. Alkan continued as follows:

"Closed surgeries that can be accessed through the throat are performed as long as the tumor allows. However, as in Mehmet Fidan, open surgery comes to the fore in cases where the tumor enters the cartilage. There are developments here as well. Repair after removing the tissue that is important in the tissue with partial surgeries. Either we make regional patches, or we put patches from other regions. Thus, the patient speaks again and leaves the surgery in a position to eat."

The Key Criterion is Being able to Talk on the Phone

Yeditepe University Koşuyolu Hospital ENT and Head and Neck Surgery specialist Prof. Dr. Zeynep Alkan said, "We are trying to keep the patient in touch with voice therapies. The most important criterion is that the person speaks on the phone and the voice is evaluated on the phone. In other words, if the person can explain his/her problem to the other person by phone or if they can make their voice heard by the other party in the right gender, it is sufficient for us in the first place. In this way, we can ensure that they can continue their life without needing anyone in case of an emergency.

"My Family Was Always by My Side"

About 2.5 years after his surgery, Mehmet Fidan said that he is now extremely healthy and has overcome the disease. As a patient who has had a severe medical experience, he added:

"Right now, I can say that I am at the second stage of my life. So, I am going to take this very seriously. I quit smoking, but my advice to everyone is not to smoke. In the meantime, the support of the family is very important throughout my life. My family was always by my side. We decided on the surgery together and we have made it to this day."