Treatments: Larynx Cancer
Treatment of larynx (voice box) cancer aims first to cure the cancer and second to keep the voice, swallowing, and breathing working as well as possible. Early cancers are usually treated with one type of treatment, while advanced cancers usually need a combination.
This page describes the treatments used for larynx cancer, most of which is squamous cell carcinoma. The anatomy of the larynx (glottis, supraglottis and subglottis) is described in the larynx learning center. Week-by-week pictures of what to expect with each treatment track are on the early laryngeal cancer treatment timelines page (stage I and II) and the advanced laryngeal cancer treatment timelines page (stage III and IV).
How treatment is planned
The care team. Larynx cancer is usually managed by a team that may include a head and neck surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, a speech-language pathologist (a specialist in voice and swallowing), a registered dietitian, a dentist, nurses, and social work or psychology support. Treatment decisions are often reviewed at a "tumor board," where the specialists discuss each case together and agree on a recommendation.
Tests before treatment. Before treatment begins, the team typically gathers information through:
A detailed look at the larynx with a thin camera (laryngoscopy), often in the clinic and again under anesthesia
A biopsy to confirm the diagnosis (understanding pathology results)
CT and/or MRI scans of the neck, and sometimes a chest CT or PET/CT scan
A dental evaluation, especially if radiation is planned
A baseline speech and swallowing evaluation
A nutrition assessment
Hearing testing in some cases, because certain chemotherapy drugs can affect hearing
Testing of the tumor for a marker called PD-L1, which helps determine whether immunotherapy may be an option
Support for quitting smoking
Stage. The stage describes how large the tumor is, whether it affects vocal cord movement, whether it has grown through cartilage or outside the larynx, and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
Early-stage larynx cancer generally means a small tumor (often called T1 or T2) that has not spread to lymph nodes.
Advanced-stage (locally advanced) larynx cancer generally means a larger tumor (T3 or T4), a vocal cord that no longer moves, spread through cartilage, and/or spread to lymph nodes in the neck.
Goals of treatment. For most people, the main goal is to cure the cancer. A second, closely related goal is to preserve the voice, swallowing, and breathing as well as possible. Sometimes these goals must be balanced against each other, and the best choice depends on the individual situation.
Treatment of early-stage larynx cancer
Early-stage larynx cancer has a good outlook. It is usually treated with one type of treatment, either surgery or radiation, rather than a combination. Both approaches cure most early cancers and preserve the larynx in most people. Studies comparing the two have generally found similar survival.
Transoral laser surgery
What it is: The surgeon works through the mouth, using a microscope and a laser (often a CO₂ laser) to remove the tumor. No cut is made in the skin of the neck. (What to expect over time with transoral laser surgery)
What to expect:
It is usually a single procedure done under general anesthesia.
Many people go home the same day or after one to two nights in the hospital.
Hoarseness after surgery is common. How much the voice changes depends largely on how much tissue is removed. Very small resections often leave a voice close to normal, while larger resections can leave the voice breathy or weak.
Because the tumor is removed and examined, the surgical team learns exactly how much cancer was present.
Possible advantages:
Treatment is completed in one day rather than over several weeks.
If the cancer returns, laser surgery can sometimes be repeated, and radiation remains available as a later option.
It avoids the side effects of radiation to the neck.
Possible limitations:
Not everyone is a candidate. The surgeon must be able to see the whole tumor through the mouth. Things like limited neck movement, a small jaw, or certain tooth or jaw shapes can make this difficult.
Tumors in certain locations, such as the front where the two vocal cords meet (the anterior commissure), or tumors that invade deeply, may be harder to remove this way and may leave a weaker voice.
People who cannot safely have general anesthesia may be better suited to radiation.
Radiation therapy
What it is: High-energy X-rays aimed at the larynx kill cancer cells. Modern radiation techniques shape the beam to limit the dose to nearby healthy tissue. More about how radiation works is in the radiation therapy learning center. (What to expect over time with radiation for early larynx cancer)
What to expect:
Treatments are usually given once a day, Monday through Friday, for about 4 to 7 weeks depending on the plan.
Each daily session takes only a few minutes of actual treatment time.
No anesthesia or hospital stay is needed.
Common side effects during and shortly after treatment:
Hoarseness, which often gets worse during treatment and then improves in the weeks afterward
Sore throat and pain with swallowing
Skin redness or irritation on the neck
Tiredness
Possible longer-term effects:
Swelling of the larynx
Dryness in the throat
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), which can develop months to years later
Stiffness or scarring of tissues in the neck
Possible advantages:
It avoids surgery and anesthesia.
Some studies show that voice quality after radiation is very good, especially in the first year.
It can treat tumors that are difficult to reach through the mouth.
Possible limitations:
It requires daily visits over several weeks.
Radiation generally cannot be given to the same area a second time. If the cancer returns after radiation, surgery is usually needed, and in some cases this means removing the entire larynx.
Continued smoking during and after radiation is linked to poorer voice results and more side effects.
Partial laryngectomy (open surgery)
What it is: In some situations, part of the larynx is removed through an incision in the neck rather than through the mouth. There are several types, depending on which part of the larynx is involved. For example, some operations remove one side of the larynx, and others remove the area above the vocal cords. (What to expect over time with open partial laryngectomy)
When it may be used: It may be an option for tumors that cannot be reached well through the mouth or that involve specific areas of the larynx. Open partial surgery is used less often today because transoral techniques have improved.
What to expect:
A longer hospital stay than laser surgery
A temporary breathing tube in the neck (tracheostomy) is often needed until swelling goes down
A period of swallowing rehabilitation, because protecting the airway during swallowing may be harder at first
The voice is preserved but is usually changed
Partial laryngectomy is generally avoided if radiation is likely to be needed after surgery, because combining the two can worsen voice and swallowing.
Comparing the main options for early-stage cancer
Chance of cure: transoral laser surgery: high, similar to radiation; radiation therapy: high, similar to surgery
Treatment time: transoral laser surgery: usually one procedure; radiation therapy: daily treatments for about 4 to 7 weeks
Anesthesia needed: transoral laser surgery: yes; radiation therapy: no
Voice afterward: transoral laser surgery: depends on how much tissue is removed, ranging from near-normal to breathy; radiation therapy: often good, with hoarseness that worsens during treatment and then improves
If cancer returns: transoral laser surgery: laser surgery may be repeated, and radiation is still available; radiation therapy: usually requires surgery, sometimes removal of the larynx
Main side effects: transoral laser surgery: hoarseness, and rarely bleeding or airway swelling; radiation therapy: sore throat, skin irritation, and fatigue, and later dryness, swelling, and thyroid problems
Lymph node involvement
Early cancers of the vocal cords rarely spread to lymph nodes, so treatment usually focuses only on the larynx. Early cancers above the vocal cords (supraglottic) are more likely to spread to the neck, so treatment may also include the lymph nodes, either by surgery (neck dissection) or by radiation.
When surgery shows higher-risk features
If examination of the tissue removed during surgery shows features suggesting a higher chance of the cancer coming back, such as cancer at the edge of the removed tissue, additional surgery or radiation may be recommended. Sometimes chemotherapy is added to the radiation.
Treatment of advanced-stage larynx cancer
Advanced larynx cancer usually requires more than one type of treatment. The two main approaches are:
Surgery first, most often a total laryngectomy, usually followed by radiation (with or without chemotherapy)
Larynx preservation, using radiation combined with chemotherapy, with surgery kept in reserve if the cancer does not go away or comes back
Choosing between these approaches is one of the most important decisions in larynx cancer care. It depends on the size and extent of the tumor, whether it has grown through cartilage, how well the larynx is working before treatment, overall health, kidney function and hearing (which affect chemotherapy choices), and personal priorities. How each of these tracks plays out over time is shown on the advanced laryngeal cancer treatment timelines page.
Total laryngectomy
What it is: The entire larynx is removed through an incision in the neck. The windpipe is brought out to the front of the neck to form a permanent opening called a stoma, through which the person breathes for the rest of their life. Lymph nodes in the neck are often removed at the same time, and sometimes part or all of the thyroid gland as well. (What to expect over time with laryngectomy alone, laryngectomy followed by radiation, and laryngectomy followed by chemoradiation.)
When it is used:
For many very advanced tumors, especially those that have grown through the cartilage of the larynx or extended outside it (often called T4a). For these tumors, surgery first is generally the preferred approach, and studies suggest better survival with surgery than with chemoradiation for most of them.
For tumors that have already badly damaged the larynx, for example causing serious breathing problems or frequent choking and aspiration (food or liquid going into the lungs). In these cases, keeping the larynx may not leave a larynx that works well.
When cancer remains or returns after radiation or chemoradiation (called salvage laryngectomy).
Occasionally, for a larynx that no longer functions after earlier treatment, even when no cancer is present.
What changes after a total laryngectomy:
Breathing: Air enters and leaves through the stoma in the neck, not through the nose and mouth. The windpipe and the food passage are permanently separated, so food and liquid can no longer go into the lungs through the throat.
Voice: The natural voice is lost because the vocal cords are removed. However, most people can learn to speak again using one of several methods (see "Voice rehabilitation" below).
Smell and taste: Because air no longer moves through the nose, the sense of smell is reduced. Taste may also seem weaker. Special techniques taught by speech-language pathologists can help restore some sense of smell.
Mucus and coughing: Air breathed through the stoma is not warmed, moistened, or filtered by the nose. This can cause more mucus, coughing, and crusting. A device called a heat and moisture exchanger (HME), worn over the stoma, helps a great deal (see "Life after total laryngectomy" below).
Swallowing: Most people return to eating by mouth. Some have difficulty with certain textures, particularly if radiation is also given.
After surgery: Depending on what is found in the removed tissue, radiation often follows, usually starting within about 6 weeks of surgery. Chemotherapy is typically added to radiation when the cancer extends to the edge of the removed tissue or has grown outside a lymph node.
Chemoradiation for larynx preservation
What it is: Radiation is given daily for about 7 weeks, combined with chemotherapy given during the same period. The chemotherapy (most commonly cisplatin) makes the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. The goal is to cure the cancer while keeping the larynx in place. (What to expect over time with chemoradiation)
Who may be a candidate: People with intermediate or advanced cancers, often T3 tumors and selected smaller T4 tumors, who have a larynx that is still working reasonably well and who are healthy enough for combined treatment. People with large tumors that have destroyed cartilage are generally better served by total laryngectomy.
What the research shows:
In a large, landmark U.S. study, radiation combined with cisplatin preserved the larynx in more people than either radiation alone or chemotherapy given before radiation. After about 10 years, roughly 8 in 10 people treated with chemoradiation still had their larynx.
Overall survival was similar among the different nonsurgical approaches in that study.
Careful selection of patients, and close follow-up so that surgery can be done promptly if the cancer persists or returns, are both essential to make sure larynx preservation does not reduce the chance of cure.
Side effects: Chemoradiation is a demanding treatment. Side effects tend to be stronger than with radiation alone and may include:
Severe sore throat and painful swallowing, which may make eating difficult
Weight loss; some people need a temporary feeding tube
Skin irritation on the neck
Fatigue
Nausea
Effects from cisplatin, such as kidney problems, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and lowered blood counts that raise the risk of infection
Longer-term effects can include dry mouth, stiffness of the neck tissues, an underactive thyroid, and swallowing problems. In some people, swallowing difficulties appear or worsen years after treatment. One study found that about 1 in 4 people had serious late swallowing problems within 5 years. Swallowing exercises, discussed below, aim to reduce this risk.
For people who cannot receive cisplatin because of kidney problems, hearing loss, or other health conditions, other drug combinations or radiation alone may be considered. More about these medicines is in the chemotherapy and immunotherapy learning center.
After treatment: A scan (often a PET/CT) is usually done about 3 months after chemoradiation to check the response. If cancer remains in the larynx, surgery is generally the next step. If cancer remains in the neck lymph nodes, a neck dissection may be needed.
Induction chemotherapy
What it is: Chemotherapy is given before any radiation or surgery, usually for 2 or 3 cycles. A common combination includes three drugs: docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (sometimes abbreviated TPF). (What to expect over time with induction chemotherapy)
How it is used: The way the tumor responds to the first cycles helps guide what comes next:
If the tumor shrinks a lot, radiation (sometimes with chemotherapy) is typically given next, and the larynx is preserved.
If the tumor does not shrink enough, surgery (often total laryngectomy) usually follows.
In this way, induction chemotherapy acts partly as a "test" to identify which cancers are likely to respond well to a larynx-preserving approach.
What the research shows: Studies have shown that induction chemotherapy followed by radiation can preserve the larynx in many people without lowering survival compared with surgery. The three-drug combination preserved the larynx more often than an older two-drug combination. In the United States, chemoradiation with cisplatin is more commonly used as the standard larynx-preservation approach, while induction chemotherapy is used more often in Europe and for selected patients in the U.S. Research directly comparing the two approaches is ongoing.
Side effects: Induction chemotherapy can cause significant side effects, including low blood counts and risk of infection, mouth sores, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, hair loss, and the cisplatin-related effects described above. It is best delivered at centers experienced with this treatment.
When surgery is declined
Some people with very advanced tumors for whom total laryngectomy is recommended may choose not to have it. In that case, chemoradiation, induction chemotherapy, or a clinical trial may be offered. The possible effect of this choice on the chance of cure is an important part of the discussion with the care team.
Immunotherapy
What it is. Immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, help the body's own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. They are given by infusion into a vein. A form of pembrolizumab that is injected under the skin is also available.
PD-L1 testing. Whether immunotherapy is used, and how, often depends on a test of the tumor tissue for PD-L1. The result is reported as a "combined positive score" (CPS). A CPS of 1 or more is considered positive. Most head and neck cancers test positive.
Immunotherapy around the time of surgery. For people with advanced larynx cancer that can be removed with surgery and whose tumors are PD-L1 positive, pembrolizumab may now be given:
Before surgery (for a short period), and then
After surgery, together with radiation (with or without chemotherapy) and continued afterward for several months
In a large international study, adding pembrolizumab before and after surgery lowered the chance of the cancer returning or worsening. After about 3 years, around 58 out of 100 people in the pembrolizumab group were alive without their cancer coming back or worsening, compared with about 45 out of 100 people who received standard treatment alone. This approach is now approved in the United States and included in national treatment guidelines for many advanced, operable head and neck cancers, including larynx cancer. It is not used for people with the most extensive lymph node involvement. (What to expect over time with immunotherapy, surgery and radiation)
Immunotherapy has not been shown to improve results when added to chemoradiation for people treated without surgery, so it is not routinely used in that setting outside of clinical trials.
Immunotherapy for cancer that has come back or spread. For larynx cancer that returns and cannot be removed or treated with radiation, or that has spread to other parts of the body, immunotherapy is an important treatment:
For PD-L1-positive cancers, pembrolizumab may be given alone or combined with chemotherapy as the first treatment.
For PD-L1-negative cancers, pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy may be used.
If the cancer worsens after platinum chemotherapy (such as cisplatin or carboplatin), pembrolizumab or nivolumab may be used.
In these situations, treatment usually aims to control the cancer, extend life, and relieve symptoms, rather than to cure. Some people have long-lasting responses.
Side effects of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is often easier to tolerate than chemotherapy, but it can cause the immune system to attack healthy organs. Such side effects can appear during treatment or months later and may include:
Fatigue
Skin rash or itching
Diarrhea or abdominal pain (colitis)
Cough or shortness of breath (lung inflammation)
Thyroid or other hormone problems
Liver inflammation
Less commonly, problems affecting the kidneys, heart, nerves, or other organs
Most immune-related side effects can be treated, especially when caught early, which is why new or worsening symptoms during or after immunotherapy are reported to the care team promptly.
Voice rehabilitation
After laser surgery, radiation, or partial laryngectomy. Voice changes are common after any treatment that preserves the larynx. A speech-language pathologist can provide voice therapy, which may include:
Breathing exercises to support the voice
Techniques to reduce strain and tension in the throat
Exercises to improve voice strength, quality, and stability
Advice on voice care, such as staying well hydrated, avoiding frequent throat clearing, and resting the voice when needed
A structured voice therapy program has been shown to improve voice-related quality of life after laser surgery. Not smoking also helps the voice recover after radiation.
After total laryngectomy. Although the natural voice is lost, most people can communicate by speaking again. There are three main methods, and many people use more than one:
Tracheoesophageal voice (voice prosthesis)
A small opening (puncture) is made between the back wall of the windpipe and the food passage. This can be done at the time of the laryngectomy or later.
A small one-way valve, called a voice prosthesis, is placed in the opening. It lets air pass from the windpipe into the throat but keeps food and liquid out of the windpipe.
To speak, the person covers the stoma (with a finger or a hands-free valve) while breathing out. Air from the lungs travels through the valve and makes the tissues of the throat vibrate, producing a voice that is then shaped into words by the mouth and tongue.
This is considered the most effective method for most people. It produces a voice closer to natural speech, with good loudness and fluency, and it is generally easier to learn than esophageal speech.
The prosthesis needs regular care and periodic replacement, usually every few months. Possible problems include leaking around or through the valve, which can cause coughing while drinking. These problems are usually managed in clinic.
Esophageal speech
The person learns to take air into the upper food passage and release it in a controlled way, similar to a controlled belch, to produce sound.
No device or additional surgery is needed.
It takes significant practice, and not everyone becomes fluent.
Electrolarynx
A small battery-powered device is held against the neck or placed in the mouth. It creates a vibration that the person shapes into words.
It is easy to learn and can be used soon after surgery.
The voice sounds mechanical or robotic.
A speech-language pathologist usually meets with the patient before surgery to explain these options and continues working with them afterward. Voice therapy can help improve the quality of tracheoesophageal speech and solve common problems such as a strained voice.
Swallowing rehabilitation
Swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) is one of the most important side effects of larynx cancer treatment, especially with radiation and chemoradiation. Swallowing care begins before treatment and continues long afterward. More about swallowing care is on the swallowing treatments page.
Before treatment
A baseline swallowing evaluation by a speech-language pathologist is common when treatment is likely to affect swallowing.
A registered dietitian reviews nutrition and weight, because many people lose weight before and during treatment.
Swallowing function before treatment also helps the team judge whether keeping the larynx is likely to result in good function.
During radiation or chemoradiation
Swallowing exercises: Expert groups recommend exercises before and during radiation to keep the swallowing muscles strong and moving. Examples include effortful swallows, tongue strengthening and range-of-motion exercises, jaw exercises, and exercises that lift the larynx. These have been linked to better swallowing function and quality of life, though they only work if done regularly.
Eating and drinking by mouth when safe: Continuing to swallow food and liquid during treatment, even in small amounts, is associated with better swallowing after treatment. The "use it or lose it" principle applies.
Pain control: Good management of throat pain helps people keep eating.
Feeding tube: Some people need a temporary feeding tube to maintain nutrition during treatment. Even with a feeding tube, continuing to swallow some food or liquid by mouth, if safe, is encouraged.
Radiation planning: Modern radiation techniques can lower the dose to swallowing muscles and salivary glands, which may reduce long-term swallowing problems and dry mouth.
After treatment
Many people gradually return to a normal or near-normal diet over weeks to months.
Some need special techniques, such as changes in head position, specific swallowing maneuvers, or changes in food texture.
Special tests, such as a modified barium swallow study (a moving X-ray while swallowing) or a camera exam of swallowing, can check for aspiration.
Swallowing problems can sometimes develop years after radiation because of scarring and stiffness of the tissues. Continued exercises and ongoing follow-up with a speech-language pathologist are important.
Narrowing of the throat or food passage can sometimes be treated by stretching (dilation).
Warning signs of swallowing problems. Signs that are reported to the care team include coughing or choking while eating or drinking, a wet or gurgly voice after swallowing, food sticking in the throat, repeated chest infections or pneumonia, and unintended weight loss.
Life after total laryngectomy
Stoma care and breathing
The stoma is kept clean and free of crusts and mucus.
A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) is a small filter worn over the stoma. It traps warmth and moisture from each breath out and returns them with the next breath in, partly replacing the job the nose used to do. Regular HME use has been shown to reduce coughing, mucus, mucus plugs, and chest infections, and to improve quality of life. Starting HME use early after surgery and receiving good training help people continue using it.
Some people need a soft tube placed in the stoma to keep it open, especially in the early weeks or during radiation.
Additional humidity at home can help, especially in dry climates or winter.
Safety
Water safety: Because water entering the stoma goes directly into the lungs, care is needed when showering (shower guards are available). Swimming is not safe without special equipment and training.
Emergency identification: People who have had a total laryngectomy are sometimes called "neck breathers." In an emergency, oxygen and rescue breathing must be given through the stoma, not the mouth or nose. Many people carry a medical ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet for this reason.
Emotional and social adjustment. Losing the natural voice and living with a stoma are major life changes. Feelings of sadness, anxiety, frustration, or isolation are common. Counseling, support groups for people who have had a laryngectomy, and peer visitors who have been through the same experience can be very helpful.
Follow-up care after treatment
Why follow-up matters. Regular follow-up visits are important to:
Check for any return of the cancer, so it can be treated as early as possible
Look for new cancers of the head, neck, or lungs, which are more common in people who have had larynx cancer, especially smokers
Manage the long-term side effects of treatment
Support voice, swallowing, nutrition, and emotional well-being
Typical schedule. National guidelines suggest an examination of the head and neck, including a camera look at the larynx, at approximately these intervals:
Year 1: every 1 to 3 months
Year 2: every 2 to 6 months
Years 3 to 5: every 4 to 8 months
After 5 years: once a year
The exact schedule is adjusted for each person based on the stage of the cancer and the treatment received.
Common follow-up tests
Imaging: A scan (often PET/CT) is commonly done about 3 months after radiation or chemoradiation to check the response. Further scans are done as needed based on symptoms or what cannot be seen on examination.
Thyroid blood test (TSH): Typically checked every 6 to 12 months for anyone who received radiation to the neck or had part of the thyroid removed. An underactive thyroid develops in roughly a third to half of people after neck radiation and can cause tiredness, weight gain, low mood, and feeling cold. It is easily treated with thyroid hormone pills.
Lung cancer screening: People with a significant smoking history may qualify for yearly low-dose CT scans of the chest.
Ongoing speech, swallowing, nutrition, and dental care as needed.
Monitoring for immunotherapy side effects in people who received immunotherapy, since some effects can appear later.
Healthy habits after treatment
Stopping smoking is one of the most important steps after treatment. Continued smoking increases the risk of the cancer returning, new cancers, and treatment side effects, and it can worsen voice results after radiation. Support programs and medications can help.
Limiting alcohol also lowers the risk of new cancers.
Staying physically active and eating well supports recovery.
Routine health care, screenings, and vaccinations continue with a primary care clinician.
Symptoms that are reported promptly
Most returning cancers are first noticed by the patient. These symptoms are usually reported to the care team without waiting for the next scheduled visit:
New or worsening hoarseness or voice change
A lump or swelling in the neck
Pain in the throat or ear that does not go away
New or worsening difficulty swallowing, or food sticking
Coughing up blood
Noisy breathing or shortness of breath
Unexplained weight loss
For people with a stoma: bleeding, a new growth around the stoma, or difficulty breathing through it
Clinical trials
Clinical trials test new treatments or new ways of combining existing treatments. They may offer access to promising approaches and help improve care for future patients. Clinical trials are an option at every stage of larynx cancer, including for people who wish to preserve the larynx with an advanced tumor, and for cancer that has returned or spread. The care team can explain whether a suitable trial is available.
Questions patients and families often discuss with the care team
What is the stage and exact location of the cancer?
Is the goal of treatment cure?
What are the treatment options, and which one does the team recommend and why?
Is larynx preservation a reasonable option, and what is the chance of keeping a larynx that works well?
What will the voice and swallowing likely be like after each option?
If surgery is recommended, will a total laryngectomy be needed? Will a voice prosthesis be placed?
Was PD-L1 testing done, and is immunotherapy an option?
What side effects are expected in the short term and the long term, and how are they managed?
Will a feeding tube be needed?
When should swallowing exercises and voice therapy begin?
What follow-up schedule is planned?
Is a clinical trial available?
What support is available for quitting smoking, coping emotionally, and connecting with other survivors?
Key terms
Larynx – the voice box
Glottis / supraglottis / subglottis – the vocal cords, the area above them, and the area below them
Transoral laser surgery – removal of a tumor through the mouth using a laser and microscope
Partial laryngectomy – surgery that removes only part of the larynx
Total laryngectomy – surgery that removes the entire larynx and creates a permanent breathing opening in the neck
Stoma – the permanent opening in the front of the neck for breathing after total laryngectomy
Chemoradiation – radiation therapy given together with chemotherapy
Induction chemotherapy – chemotherapy given before the main treatment
Larynx preservation – treatment designed to cure the cancer while keeping the larynx
Salvage surgery – surgery done when cancer remains or returns after radiation or chemoradiation
Immunotherapy – drugs that help the immune system fight cancer
PD-L1 / CPS – a tumor marker and scoring system used to guide immunotherapy decisions
Speech-language pathologist – a specialist in voice, speech, and swallowing
Voice prosthesis (tracheoesophageal prosthesis) – a small one-way valve that allows speech after total laryngectomy
Electrolarynx – a handheld device that produces vibration for speech
Heat and moisture exchanger (HME) – a filter worn over the stoma that warms, moistens, and filters air
Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing
Hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid gland
This page