If you've been diagnosed with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer, your cancer care team will talk with you about treatment options. Choosing a treatment plan is a major decision, so it's important to take time and think about all of your choices.
How are laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers treated?
Depending on the stage of the cancer and your overall health, different treatment options may be used alone or in combination. In creating your treatment plan, the most important factors to consider are the site and the stage (extent) of the cancer. Your cancer care team will also take into account your general health and your personal preferences. A major focus of treatments is to try to save your larynx and voice if at all possible. Most experts don't recommend surgery that will totally remove the larynx unless there are no other options.
Who treats laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers?
Many other specialists could be involved in your care as well, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutrition specialists, speech therapists, social workers, and other health professionals. In fact, a speech terapist and dietician are key players on your cancer care team. You'll meet with them before treatment starts so they can see how well you can swallow and make a nutrition plan for you to follow during treatment.
It's important to discuss all treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. For instance, if the cancer is too advanced to be cured, the goal may be to remove or destroy as much of the cancer as possible to keep the tumor from growing, spreading, or returning for as long as possible. Some of the treatments can also be used as palliative treatment if all the cancer cannot be removed. Palliative treatment is meant to relieve symptoms, such as pain or trouble swallowing, but it's not expected to cure the cancer.