Giacomo Puccini—a great composer and a genius

Abstract

Giacomo Puccini is one of the most renowned opera composers in the world. He continued the work of Giuseppe Verdi. Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, Grand Duchy of Tuscany on December 22, 1858. In 1880, he entered the Milan Conservatory, where he studied with the famous composer Ponchielli (1834–1886). Puccini began writing his last opera Turandot in poor health. The pains in the throat were very painful and prolonged. He showed symptoms of cancer of the larynx and, in the fall of 1924, the condition of the great composer worsened. On November 4, Giacomo Puccini traveled with his son Antonio to the city of Brussels, where he underwent radiation therapy. After the radiotherapy he temporarily felt better and in Brussels he attended the performance of the new opera La bohème for the last time. Puccini worsened and, on November 29, 1924, he died in Brussels, Belgium. The purpose of the scientific publication about Giacomo Puccini is to draw attention to the topic of diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the larynx. In most cases of cancer of the larynx, as well as in 90% of cases of head and neck cancer, prevention is possible thanks to lifestyle changes to avoid carcinogenic factors. We must emphasize that timely diagnosis of laryngeal cancer is a key to its therapy. Cancer of the larynx is curable in more than 70% of cases if diagnosed early. The diagnosis is made by an otorhinolaryngologist, who must do an endoscopic examination of the larynx.