Taiwanese grandmother, 76, regains singing voice after proton therapy for stage 4 throat cancer

A 76-year-old Taiwanese woman, who loves to sing, has regained her voice and ability to swallow after undergoing proton therapy for stage 4 hypopharyngeal cancer. Initially, the prospect of a total laryngectomy, a standard treatment for her condition, made her consider abandoning treatment.

Chen, who had difficulty swallowing for two years before her diagnosis, had a 4-centimeter tumor in her hypopharynx. Doctors at China Medical University Hospital explained that the hypopharynx's deep and hidden location, coupled with its rich lymphatic tissue, often leads to late-stage diagnoses and the potential loss of natural vocalization.

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The hypopharynx is located at the back of the throat, connecting to the entrance of the esophagus. Its deep and hidden position, along with abundant surrounding lymphatic tissue, means tumors can easily metastasize to lymph nodes. Early symptoms are often subtle, such as a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, difficulty swallowing, or one-sided ear pain, easily confusing them with common throat ailments. Consequently, many patients are diagnosed at a late stage, and treatment may involve total laryngectomy, resulting in the permanent loss of natural vocalization.

Opting for proton therapy combined with chemotherapy instead of surgery, Chen underwent six rounds of induction chemotherapy and 35 proton radiotherapy sessions over six months. This approach successfully reduced the tumor to an undetectable size on imaging, preserving her throat. She experienced only a temporary decrease in voice volume during treatment, which has since recovered.

Proton therapy's "Bragg peak" physical characteristic allows for precise energy delivery to the tumor, minimizing radiation damage to adjacent healthy organs. This makes it particularly beneficial for head and neck cancer patients requiring functional preservation, as well as those with liver or breast cancer. Doctors advise that persistent symptoms like a persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, or hoarseness lasting over two weeks, or an unexplained neck lump, warrant prompt medical examination.

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Proton therapy has a unique 'Bragg peak' physical characteristic that concentrates the main energy on the treatment target according to the tumor's depth, with the dose rapidly decreasing after passing through the tumor. Coupled with 'pencil-beam scanning technology,' it allows for planning treatment doses according to the tumor's shape and location, reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues. It is suitable for head and neck cancer patients whose tumors are adjacent to important organs and require organ function preservation, as well as for liver and breast cancer patients.