Laryngeal Cancer Treatment

During radiation therapy, the radiologist uses high-energy X-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. Commonly, our doctors in India use external beam radiation therapy, also known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). IMRT works best in killing cancer cells while ensuring minimal damage to surrounding healthy cells.

Usually, doctors advise chemotherapy for people with laryngeal cancer before advising surgery. During the chemotherapy, your doctor will administer certain drugs or a combination of drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Laryngeal cancer can be removed surgically, too. During surgery, the surgical oncologist removes the cancerous cells along with some healthy cells. Sometimes the surgeon is unable to remove the cancer completely. In that case, your doctor may advise you on some other treatment along with surgery.

Laser surgery is a revolutionary cancer treatment method. During laser surgery, your surgeon uses a small beam of light to remove cancer.

Immunotherapy or biologic therapy is the latest technique used by doctors to treat cancer while enhancing immunity. Immunotherapy is often performed along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. 

Your doctor may suggest targeted therapy for you if he feels that you are too weak to undergo surgery. By using targeted therapy your doctor aims to destroy the cancer cells and their spread to other parts of the body.

The location of cancer in the larynx determines the treatment for newly diagnosed stage I laryngeal cancer.

Treatment options for cancer of the supraglottis (The upper part of the larynx (voice box), including the epiglottis; the area above the vocal cords) include the following:

• Radiation therapy
• Supraglottic laryngectomy (surgery)

If cancer has spread to the glottis (The middle part of the larynx, the area where the vocal cords are located), treatment options include:

• Radiation therapy
• Laser surgery
• Cordectomy
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy (surgery)

If cancer has spread to the subglottis (The lowest part of the larynx; the area from just below the vocal cords down to the top of the trachea), treatment options include:

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery
• Surgery alone

In stage II, the treatment options include if,

Cancer is in the supraglottis

• Radiation therapy to the tumor and nearby lymph nodes
• Supraglottic laryngectomy may be followed by radiation therapy

Cancer is in the glottis,

• Radiation therapy
• Laser surgery
• Partial laryngectomy, hemilaryngectomy, or total laryngectomy

Cancer is in the subglottis,

• Radiation therapy with or without surgery
• Surgery alone

In stage III, doctors typically do the following treatments.

If cancer is in the supraglottis,

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are performed simultaneously.
• Chemotherapy is given first, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If cancer persists, a laryngectomy may be performed.
• For patients who cannot be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, radiation therapy is used alone.
• Surgery may be followed by radiation therapy.

If cancer is in the glottis,

• Same treatment as supraglottis

If cancer is in the subglottis,

• Laryngectomy with total thyroidectomy and lymph node removal is usually followed by radiation therapy.
• For patients who cannot be treated with chemotherapy or surgery, radiation therapy is used alone.
• Chemotherapy is given first, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If cancer persists, a laryngectomy may be performed.
• A clinical trial of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiosensitizers, or radiation therapy.

Treatment is the same as stage III.