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Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more| .
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Radiotherapy|, surgery| and chemotherapy| can all be used to treat cancer of the larynx. Generally how laryngeal cancer is treated depends on where the cancer is in the larynx, the stage| of the cancer, and your age and overall health.
If the cancer is small and at an early stage, it can be treated and usually cured by radiotherapy or surgery (usually laser surgery).
With larger tumours you may need surgery to remove all or part of the larynx. Radiotherapy may also be given after surgery to help to get rid of any cancer cells that may have been left behind.
Chemotherapy given with radiotherapy (chemoradiation) may also be a treatment option.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used to help to reduce the size of the cancer before radiotherapy or surgery. It can also be used if the cancer has spread beyond the larynx or has come back after radiotherapy.
If you have cancer of the larynx, your treatment is more likely to be successful and the side effects of treatments more manageable if you can give up, smoking and drinking alcohol before you start your treatment. It will also reduce the risk of the cancer returning, and the risk of other cancers developing.
Giving up smoking can be very difficult, especially at times of stress, but several organisations can help you such as QUIT|. Your GP or cancer specialist can also give you advice.
In most hospitals, a team of specialists will decide which treatment is best for you. This is known as a multidisciplinary team and will include an ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, a clinical oncologist (chemotherapy and radiotherapy specialist) and will often include a number of other healthcare professionals such as a:
Together they will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment, taking into account a number of factors like your age, general health, the cancer type and stage.
Other staff will also be available to help you if necessary, such as:
If two treatments are equally as effective for your type and stage of cancer, for example surgery or radiotherapy for early stage laryngeal cancer, your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments. Sometimes people find it very hard to make a decision.
If you are asked to make a choice, make sure that you have enough information about:
Having this information can help you decide what the right treatment is for you.
Before you have any treatment your doctor will explain the aims of the treatment to you. You will usually be asked to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No treatment can be given without your consent. Before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:
If you don’t understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are very complex, so it’s not unusual for people to need to have the information repeated.
People often feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it’s important that you know how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.
You can always ask for more time to decide about the treatment, if you feel that you can’t make a decision when it’s first explained to you. You are also free to choose not to have the treatment, and the staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it. It’s essential to tell a doctor or the nurse in charge so that they can record your decision in your medical notes. You do not have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it’s helpful to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.
Usually a number of cancer specialists work together as a team and they use national treatment guidelines to decide on the most suitable treatment for a patient. Even so, you may want to have another medical opinion. Either your specialist or your GP may be willing to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel it will be helpful. Getting a second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will give you useful information.
If you do go for a second opinion it may be a good idea to take a friend or relative with you. It can also help if you make a list of questions so that you can make sure your concerns are covered during the discussion.
Many people are frightened at the idea of having cancer treatments, because of the side effects that can occur. Although cancer treatments can cause side effects, these can usually be controlled with medicines.
Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary for each person. For some people with laryngeal cancer, treatments like radiotherapy or surgery may be used with the aim of curing the cancer.
Sometimes if the cancer is very advanced or has come back, treatment may be used with the aim of controlling the cancer. This can lead to an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life. However, for some people in this situation the treatment will have no effect on the cancer and they will get the side effects with little benefit.
If you have been offered treatment that aims to cure your cancer, deciding whether to have the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is being given to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide whether to go ahead.
Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always difficult. You may need to discuss in detail with your doctor whether you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to control any symptoms.
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If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
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