National Cancer Institute

What You Need 

To Know About TM

Cancer

of the

Larynx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF 

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute Services

This is only one of many free booklets for

people with cancer.

You may want more information for yourself,

your family, and your doctor.

NCI offers comprehensive research-based

information for patients and their families, health

professionals, cancer researchers, advocates, and

the public.

• Call NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 

1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237)

• Visit us at http://www.cancer.gov or

http://www.cancer.gov/espanol

• Chat using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant 

messaging service, at http://www.cancer.gov/

livehelp

• E-mail us at cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov

• Order publications at http://www.cancer.gov/

publications or by calling 1–800–4–CANCER

• Get help with quitting smoking at

1–877–44U–QUIT (1–877–448–7848)
Contents

About This Booklet 1

The Larynx 2

Cancer Cells 5

Risk Factors 7

Symptoms 9

Diagnosis 9

Staging 12

Treatment 13

Second Opinion 25

Nutrition 26

Rehabilitation 27

Follow-up Care 29

Sources of Support 29

Taking Part in Cancer Research 31

Dictionary 32

National Cancer Institute Publications 40

National Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders 42

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health
About This Booklet

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet is

about cancer* that starts in the larynx. Another name

for this disease is laryngeal cancer.

Each year in the United States, more than 10,000

men and about 3,000 women learn they have cancer of

the larynx. Most are over 65 years old.

Learning about medical care for cancer of the larynx

can help you take an active part in making choices

about your care. This booklet tells about:

• Diagnosis and staging

• Treatment and rehabilitation

• Taking part in research studies

This booklet has lists of questions that you may

want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to

take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help

remember what your doctor says, you can take notes.

You may also want to have a family member or friend

go with you when you talk with the doctor—to take

notes, ask questions, or just listen. 

For the latest information about cancer of the larynx,

visit NCI’s Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/

cancertopics/types/throat.

In addition, NCI’s Cancer Information Service 

can answer your questions about cancer. We can 

also send you NCI booklets and fact sheets. Call

1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or chat

using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant messaging service, at

http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.

1

*Words in italics are in the Dictionary on page 32. The Dictionary

explains these terms. It also shows how to pronounce them.
The Larynx

The larynx is an organ in your throat. It’s at the

front of your neck.

This organ is about 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide,

which is about the size of a lime.

The larynx is also called the voice box. It has two

bands of muscle that form the vocal cords. The

cartilage at the front of the larynx is sometimes called

the Adam’s apple.

The larynx has three main parts:

• Top: The top part of the larynx is the supraglottis.

• Middle: The middle part is the glottis. Your vocal

cords are in this part.

• Bottom: The bottom part is the subglottis. It

connects to the windpipe (trachea).

2
3

This picture shows the main parts of the larynx—the

supraglottis, glottis, and subglottis.

Nasal cavity

Mouth

Epiglottis

Supraglottis

Subglottis

Trachea

Esophagus

Cartilage

(vocal cords are

behind cartilage)

Glottis

Vocal

cords
4

Epiglottis

Trachea

(Windpipe)

Cartilage

Vocal cords

This picture shows how the larynx looks from above.

This is what the doctor can see with a mirror.

Your larynx opens or closes to allow you to breathe,

talk, or swallow:

• Breathing: When you hold your breath, your vocal

cords shut tightly. When you let out your breath or

breathe in, your vocal cords relax and open.

• Talking: Your larynx makes the sound of your voice.

When you talk, your vocal cords tighten and move

closer together. Air from your lungs is forced

between the cords and makes them vibrate. The

vibration makes the sound. Your tongue, lips, and

teeth form this sound into words.

• Swallowing: Your larynx protects your lungs from

food and liquid. When you swallow, a flap called the

epiglottis covers the opening of your larynx to keep

food and liquid out of your lungs. The picture on

page 5 shows how food or liquid passes through the

esophagus on its way from the mouth to the stomach.
5

Esophagus Epiglottis

Larynx

Lung

Stomach

Trachea

Air

Food

This picture shows the larynx and the normal paths for

air and food.

Cancer Cells

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make

up tissues. Tissues make up the larynx and the other

organs of the body.

Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as

the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or

get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place. 
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells

form when the body doesn’t need them, and old or

damaged cells don’t die as they should. The buildup of

extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth

or tumor.

Tumors in the larynx can be benign (not cancer) or

malignant (cancer). Benign tumors are not as harmful

as malignant tumors:

• Benign tumors (such as polyps or nodules): 

—are usually not a threat to life

—can be treated or removed and usually don’t grow

back

—don’t invade the tissues around them

—don’t spread to other parts of the body

• Malignant growths: 

—may be a threat to life

—usually can be treated or removed but can grow

back

—can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs

—can spread to other parts of the body

Laryngeal cancer cells can spread by breaking away

from the tumor in the larynx. They can travel through

lymph vessels to nearby lymph nodes. They can also

spread through blood vessels to the lungs, bones, or

liver. After spreading, laryngeal cancer cells may attach

to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may

damage those tissues. See the Staging section on page

12 for information about laryngeal cancer that has

spread.

6
Risk Factors

When you get a diagnosis of laryngeal cancer, it’s

natural to wonder what may have caused the disease.

Doctors can’t always explain why one person gets

laryngeal cancer and another doesn’t.

However, we do know that people with certain risk

factors may be more likely than others to develop

laryngeal cancer. A risk factor is something that may

increase the chance of getting a disease.

Smoking tobacco causes most laryngeal cancers.

Heavy smokers who have smoked tobacco for a long

time are most at risk for laryngeal cancer.

Also, people who are heavy drinkers are more likely

to develop laryngeal cancer than people who don’t

drink alcohol. The risk increases with the amount of

alcohol that a person drinks. The risk of laryngeal

cancer increases even more for people who are heavy

drinkers and heavy smokers. However, not everyone

who drinks or smokes heavily will develop the disease.

Many other possible risk factors are under study. For

example, researchers are studying whether an HPV

infection in the throat may increase the risk of

laryngeal cancer. HPV is a group of viruses that can

infect the body. Another area of research is whether

reflux (the backward flow of liquid from the stomach

to the throat) may increase the risk of laryngeal cancer.

7
8

How to Quit Tobacco

Quitting is important for anyone who uses

tobacco. Quitting at any time is beneficial to your

health.

For people who already have laryngeal cancer,

quitting may reduce the chance of cancer

returning after treatment. Quitting may also

reduce the chance of getting another type of

cancer (such as lung, esophagus, or oral cancer),

lung disease, or heart disease caused by tobacco.

In addition, quitting can help cancer treatments

work better.

There are many ways to get help:

• Ask your doctor about medicine or nicotine

replacement therapy. Your doctor can suggest a

number of treatments that help people quit.

• Ask your doctor or dentist to help you find

local programs or trained professionals who

help people stop using tobacco.

• Call NCI’s Smoking Quitline at

1–877–44U–QUIT (1–877–448–7848) or

chat using LiveHelp (http://www.cancer.

gov/livehelp). We can tell you about:

—Ways to quit smoking

—Groups that help smokers who want to quit

—NCI publications about quitting smoking

—How to take part in a study of methods to

help smokers quit

• Go online to Smokefree.gov (http://www.

smokefree.gov), a Federal Government Web

site. It offers a guide to quitting smoking and a

list of other resources.
Symptoms

The symptoms of laryngeal cancer depend mainly

on the size and location of the tumor. Common

symptoms of laryngeal cancer include:

• A hoarse voice or other voice changes for more than

3 weeks

• A sore throat or trouble swallowing for more than 6

weeks

• A lump in the neck

Other symptoms may include:

• Trouble breathing

• A cough that doesn’t go away

• An earache that doesn’t go away

These symptoms may be caused by laryngeal cancer

or by other health problems. People with these

symptoms should tell their doctor so that any problem

can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Diagnosis

If you have symptoms that suggest laryngeal cancer,

your doctor may do a physical exam. Your doctor looks

at your throat and feels your neck for lumps, swelling,

or other problems.

You may have one or more of the following tests:

• Indirect laryngoscopy: Your doctor uses a small

mirror with a long handle to see your throat and

larynx. Your doctor will check whether your vocal

cords move normally when you make certain

sounds. The test does not hurt. To prevent you from

gagging, your doctor may spray local anesthesia on

your throat. The test is usually done in your doctor’s

office.

9
• Direct laryngoscopy: Your doctor uses a lighted

tube (laryngoscope) to see your throat and larynx.

The lighted tube can be flexible or rigid:

—Flexible: Your doctor puts a flexible tube through

your nose into your throat. This test is usually

done in your doctor’s office with local anesthesia.

—Rigid: Your doctor puts a rigid tube through your

mouth into your throat. A tool on the rigid tube

can be used to collect tissue samples. This test

may be done in your doctor’s office, an outpatient

clinic, or a hospital. Usually, general anesthesia

is used.

10
• Biopsy: The removal of a small piece of tissue to

look for cancer cells is called a biopsy. Usually,

tissue is removed with a rigid laryngoscope under

general anesthesia. A pathologist then looks at the

tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

A biopsy is the only sure way to know if the

abnormal area is cancer. 

11

If you need a biopsy, you may want to ask

your doctor some of the following questions:

• Why do I need a biopsy?

• How much tissue do you expect to remove?

• How long will it take? Will I need general

anesthesia?

• Are there any risks? What are the chances of

infection or bleeding after the biopsy? Will I

lose my voice for a while?

• Will I be able to eat and drink normally after

the biopsy?

• How long will it take for my throat to heal?

• How soon will I know the results?

• If I do have cancer, who will talk with me

about treatment? When?
Staging

If laryngeal cancer is diagnosed, your doctor needs

to learn the extent (stage) of the disease to help you

choose the best treatment. When laryngeal cancer

spreads, cancer cells may be found in the lymph nodes

in the neck or in other tissues of the neck. Cancer cells

can also spread to the lungs, liver, bones, and other

parts of the body. 

To learn whether laryngeal cancer has invaded

nearby tissues or spread, your doctor may order one or

more tests:

• Chest x-ray: An x-ray of your chest can show a

lung tumor.

• CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer

takes a series of detailed pictures of your neck,

chest, or abdomen. You may receive an injection of

contrast material so your lymph nodes show up

clearly in the pictures. CT scans of the chest and

abdomen can show cancer in the lymph nodes,

lungs, or elsewhere.

• MRI: A large machine with a strong magnet linked

to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of

your neck, chest, or abdomen. MRI can show cancer

in the blood vessels, lymph nodes, or other tissues in

the abdomen.

When cancer spreads from its original place to

another part of the body, the new tumor has the same

kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the

primary (original) tumor. For example, if laryngeal

cancer spreads to a lung, the cancer cells in the lung

are actually laryngeal cancer cells. The disease is

metastatic laryngeal cancer, not lung cancer. It’s treated

as laryngeal cancer, not as lung cancer. Doctors

sometimes call the new tumor “distant” disease.

12
Doctors describe the stage of laryngeal cancer based

on the size of the tumor, whether the vocal cords move

normally, whether the cancer has invaded nearby

tissues, and whether the cancer has spread to other

parts of the body:

• Early cancer: Stage 0, I, or II laryngeal cancer is

usually a small tumor, and cancer cells are rarely

found in lymph nodes.

• Advanced cancer: Stage III or IV laryngeal cancer

is a tumor that has invaded nearby tissues or spread

to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Or the

cancer is only in the larynx, but the tumor prevents

the vocal cords from moving normally.

Treatment

People with early laryngeal cancer may be treated

with surgery or radiation therapy. People with

advanced laryngeal cancer may have a combination of

treatments. For example, radiation therapy and

chemotherapy are often given at the same time.

Targeted therapy is another option for some people

with advanced laryngeal cancer.

The choice of treatment depends mainly on your

general health, where in your larynx the cancer began,

and whether the cancer has spread.

You may have a team of specialists to help plan

your treatment. Your doctor may refer you to a

specialist, or you may ask for a referral. Specialists

who treat laryngeal cancer include:

• Ear, nose, and throat doctors (otolaryngologists) 

• General head and neck surgeons

• Medical oncologists

• Radiation oncologists

13
Other health care professionals who work with the

specialists as a team may include a dentist, plastic

surgeon, reconstructive surgeon, speech-language

pathologist, oncology nurse, registered dietitian, and

mental health counselor. 

Your health care team can describe your treatment

choices, the expected results of each, and the possible

side effects. You’ll want to consider how treatment may

affect eating, swallowing, and talking, and whether

treatment will change the way you look during and

after treatment. You and your health care team can

work together to develop a treatment plan that meets

your needs. 

Before, during, and after cancer treatment, you can

have supportive care to control pain and other

symptoms, to relieve the side effects of treatment, and

to ease emotional concerns. Information about

supportive care is available on NCI’s Web site at

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/coping.

Also, NCI’s Cancer Information Service can

answer your questions about supportive care. Call

1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or chat

using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant messaging service, at

http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.

You may want to talk with your doctor about taking

part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research

studies testing new treatments. They are an important

option for people with all stages of laryngeal cancer.

See the Taking Part in Cancer Research section on

page 31.

14
15

You may want to ask your doctor these

questions before you begin treatment:

• How large is the tumor? What is the stage of

the disease? Has the tumor grown outside the

larynx or spread to other organs?

• What are my treatment choices? Do you

suggest surgery, radiation therapy, or a

combination of treatments? Why?

• What are the expected benefits of each kind of

treatment?

• What is my chance of keeping my voice with

surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of

treatments?

• What can I do to prepare for treatment?

• Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for

how long?

• What are the risks and possible side effects of

each treatment? How can side effects be

managed?

• What is the treatment likely to cost? Will my

insurance cover it?

• How will treatment affect my normal

activities?

• Is a research study (clinical trial) a good choice

for me?

• Can you recommend a doctor who could give

me a second opinion about my treatment

options?

• How often should I have checkups?
Surgery

Surgery is a common treatment for people with

cancer of the larynx. The surgeon may use a scalpel or

laser. Laser surgery may be performed with a

laryngoscope.

You and your surgeon can talk about the types of

surgery and which may be right for you: 

• Removing part of the larynx: The surgeon

removes only the part of the larynx that contains the

tumor.

• Removing all of the larynx: The surgeon removes

the entire larynx and some nearby tissue. Some

lymph nodes in the area may also be removed.

It takes time to heal after surgery, and the time

needed to recover is different for each person. It's

common to feel weak or tired for a while, and your

neck may be swollen. 

Also, you may have pain or discomfort for the first

few days. Medicine can help control your pain. Before

surgery, you should discuss the plan for pain relief with

your doctor or nurse. After surgery, your doctor can

adjust the plan if you need more pain control.

Surgery may change your ability to swallow, eat, or

talk. You may need to have reconstructive or plastic

surgery to rebuild the tissue. The surgeon may use

tissue from another part of your body to repair the

throat. You can have reconstructive or plastic surgery at

the same time as you have the cancer removed, or you

can have it later on. Talk with your doctor about which

approach is right for you. 

If you lose the ability to talk for a short time after

surgery, you may find it helpful to use a notepad,

writing toy (such as a magic slate), cell phone, or

computer to write messages. Before surgery, you may

16
want to make a recording for your answering machine

or voicemail that tells callers that you have lost your

voice. See the Rehabilitation section on page 27.

Some people may need a temporary feeding tube.

See the Nutrition section on page 26.

Stoma

The surgeon may need to make a stoma. The stoma

is a new airway through an opening in the front of your

neck.

Air enters and leaves the trachea and lungs through

this opening. A metal or plastic tube (a trach tube)

keeps the new airway open.

17

Stoma

Trachea

The stoma is a new opening into the trachea. Air enters

and leaves the lungs through this opening.
18

Esophagus

Stoma

Lung

Stomach

Trachea

Air

Food

This picture shows the new path for air after the entire

larynx is removed.
19

Before you leave the hospital, your health care team

will teach you how to care for the stoma. You will learn

to remove and clean the trach tube, clean out your

airway, and care for the skin around the stoma.

You may want to follow these tips:

• Keep the skin around the stoma clean.

• If the air is dry, use a humidifier.

• If the air is dusty or smoky, cover your stoma with a

scarf, tie, or specially made cover.

• Protect your stoma from water. Cover your stoma

before you take a shower.

• Cover your stoma when you cough or sneeze.

For many people, the stoma is needed only until

recovery from surgery. Several days after surgery, the

tube will be removed, and the stoma will close up. If

your entire larynx is removed, the stoma will be

permanent.

People with stomas work in almost every type of

business and can do nearly all of the things they did

before surgery. However, they can’t hold their breath,

so heavy lifting may be hard. Also, swimming and

water skiing are not possible without a special device

and training to keep water out of the lungs.

Some people may feel self-conscious about the way

they look and speak with a stoma. They may be

concerned about how other people feel about them.

They may also be concerned about how their sex life

may be affected. Many people find that talking about

these concerns is helpful. See Sources of Support on

page 29.
Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill

cancer cells. It’s an option for people with any stage of

laryngeal cancer. People with small tumors may choose

radiation therapy instead of surgery. It may also be

used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that may

remain in the area.

20

You may want to ask your doctor these

questions before having surgery:

• Do you recommend surgery to remove the

tumor? Why? Do I need any lymph nodes

removed? Will other tissues in my neck need

to be removed?

• After surgery to remove the cancer, will my

throat area need to be repaired with tissue from

another part of my body?

• What is the goal of surgery?

• How will I feel after surgery? How long will I

be in the hospital?

• What are the risks of surgery?

• Will I have trouble swallowing, eating, or

speaking? Will I need to see a speech-language

pathologist for help?

• What will my neck look like after surgery?

Will I have a scar?

• If I need a stoma, do you recommend that I get

a medical bracelet that says “neck breather”?

• Will I need reconstructive or plastic surgery?

When can that be done?
The radiation comes from a large machine outside

the body. You may go to the hospital or clinic once or

twice a day, generally 5 days a week for several weeks.

Each treatment takes only a few minutes.

Radiation therapy aimed at the neck may cause side

effects:

• Sore throat and difficulty swallowing: Your throat

may become sore, or you may feel like there’s a

lump in your throat. It may be hard for you to

swallow.

• Changes in your voice: Your voice may become

hoarse or weak during radiation therapy. Your larynx

may swell, causing voice changes. Your doctor may

suggest medicine to reduce the swelling.

• Skin changes in the neck area: The skin on your

neck may become red or dry. Good skin care is

important. It’s helpful to expose your neck to air

while also protecting it from the sun. Also, avoid

wearing clothes that rub your neck, and don’t shave

the area. You should not use lotions or creams on

your neck without your doctor’s advice. These skin

changes usually go away when treatment ends.

• Changes in the thyroid: Radiation therapy can

harm your thyroid (an organ in your neck beneath

the voice box). If your thyroid doesn’t make enough

thyroid hormone, you may feel tired, gain weight,

feel cold, and have dry skin and hair. Your doctor

can check the level of thyroid hormone with a blood

test. If the level is low, you may need to take thyroid

hormone pills.

• Fatigue: You may become very tired, especially in

the later weeks of radiation therapy. Resting is

important, but doctors usually advise people to stay

as active as they can.

21
22

• Weight loss: You may lose weight if you have

eating problems from a sore throat and trouble

swallowing. Some people may need a temporary

feeding tube. See the Nutrition section on page 26.

Some side effects go away after radiation therapy

ends, but others last a long time. Although the side

effects of radiation therapy can be upsetting, your

doctor can usually treat or control them. It helps to

report any problems that you are having so that your

doctor can work with you to relieve them. 

You may find it helpful to read the NCI booklet

Radiation Therapy and You. 

You may want to ask your doctor these

questions before having radiation therapy:

• What is the goal of this treatment?

• When will the treatments begin? When will

they end?

• What are the risks and side effects of this

treatment? What can I do about them?

• How will I feel during therapy? What can I do

to take care of myself?

• Are there any long-term effects?

• If the tumor grows back after radiation therapy,

will surgery be an option?

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The

drugs that treat laryngeal cancer are usually given

through a vein (intravenous). The drugs enter the

bloodstream and travel throughout your body.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often given

at the same time. You may receive chemotherapy in an

outpatient part of the hospital, at the doctor’s office, or

at home. Some people need to stay in the hospital

during treatment.

The side effects depend mainly on which drugs are

given and how much. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing

cancer cells, but the drugs can also harm normal cells

that divide rapidly: 

• Blood cells: When drugs lower the levels of healthy

blood cells, you’re more likely to get infections,

bruise or bleed easily, and feel weak and tired. Your

health care team will check for low levels of blood

cells. If your levels are low, your health care team

may stop the chemotherapy for a while or reduce the

dose of the drug.

• Cells in hair roots: Chemotherapy may cause hair

loss. If you lose your hair, it will grow back, but it

may change in color and texture.

• Cells that line the digestive tract: Chemotherapy

can cause a poor appetite, nausea and vomiting,

diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores. Your health care

team can give you medicines and suggest other

ways to help with these problems.

Also, chemotherapy can cause painful mouth and

gums, dry mouth, infection, and changes in taste. Some

drugs used for laryngeal cancer can cause tingling or

numbness in the hands or feet. You may have these

problems only during treatment or for a short time after

treatment ends.

You may wish to read the NCI booklet

Chemotherapy and You.

23
Targeted Therapy

Some people with laryngeal cancer receive a type of

treatment known as targeted therapy. It may be given

along with radiation therapy.

Cetuximab (Erbitux) was the first targeted therapy

approved for laryngeal cancer. Cetuximab binds to

cancer cells and interferes with cancer cell growth and

the spread of cancer. You may receive cetuximab

through a vein once a week for several weeks at the

doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic.

During treatment, your health care team will watch

for signs of problems. Some people get medicine to

prevent a possible allergic reaction. Side effects may

include rash, fever, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These effects usually become milder after the first

treatment.

You may find it helpful to read the NCI fact sheet

Targeted Cancer Therapies.

24

You may want to ask your doctor these

questions about chemotherapy or targeted

therapy:

• Why do I need this treatment?

• Which drug or drugs will I have?

• How does the drug work?

• When will treatment start? When will it end?

• How will I feel during treatment? What are the

side effects? Are there any lasting side effects?

What can I do about them?
Second Opinion

Before starting treatment, you may want a second

opinion about your diagnosis, stage of cancer, and

treatment plan. Some people worry that the doctor will

be offended if they ask for a second opinion. Usually

the opposite is true. Most doctors welcome a second

opinion. And many health insurance companies will

pay for a second opinion if you or your doctor requests

it. Some companies require a second opinion.

If you get a second opinion, the second doctor may

agree with your first doctor’s diagnosis and treatment

plan. Or, the second doctor may suggest another

approach. Either way, you’ll have more information

and perhaps a greater sense of control. You can feel

more confident about the decisions you make, knowing

that you’ve looked at all of your options. 

It may take some time and effort to gather your

medical records and see another doctor. The delay in

starting treatment usually will not make treatment less

effective. To make sure, you should discuss this delay

with your doctor.

There are many ways to find a doctor for a second

opinion. You can ask your doctor, a local or state

medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school

for names of specialists.

Also, you can get information about treatment

centers near you from NCI’s Cancer Information

Service. Call 1–800–4–CANCER

(1–800–422–6237). Or chat using LiveHelp, NCI’s

instant messaging service, at http://www.cancer.gov/

livehelp.

Other sources can be found in the NCI fact sheet

How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You

Have Cancer.

25
Nutrition 

Your diet is an important part of your medical care

for laryngeal cancer. You need the right amount of

calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals to maintain

your strength and to heal.

However, when you have laryngeal cancer, it may

be difficult to eat. You may be uncomfortable or tired,

and you may have trouble swallowing or not feel like

eating. You also may have nausea, vomiting, dry

mouth, constipation, or diarrhea from cancer treatment

or pain medicine.

Tell your health care team if you’re having any

problems eating or drinking. Also tell your health care

team if you have diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, gas,

belly pain, nausea, or vomiting after eating. If you’re

losing weight, a dietitian can help you choose the foods

and nutrition products that will meet your needs. 

You may want to read the NCI booklet Eating Hints.

It contains many useful ideas and recipes. 

Trouble Swallowing

If there’s a chance that swallowing will become too

difficult for you, your dietitian and doctor may

recommend another way for you to receive nutrition.

For example, after surgery or during radiation therapy

for laryngeal cancer, some people need a temporary

feeding tube. A feeding tube is a flexible tube that is

usually passed into the stomach through an incision in

the abdomen. A liquid meal replacement product (such

as Boost or Ensure) can be poured through the tube.

These liquid products provide all of the calories,

protein, and other nutrients you need until you are able

to swallow again.

26
Rehabilitation

Laryngeal cancer and its treatment can make it hard

to swallow, talk, and breathe. Your health care team

will help you return to normal activities as soon as

possible. The goals of rehabilitation depend on the

extent of the disease and type of treatment.

After surgery or radiation therapy, your neck and

shoulders may become stiff or weak. Your health care

team can teach you exercises that help loosen your

neck and shoulder muscles. 

Learning to Speak Again

Laryngeal cancer and its treatment can cause

problems with talking. A speech-language pathologist

can assess your needs and plan therapy, which may

include speech exercises.

If you need your entire larynx removed, you must

learn to speak in a new way. Talking is part of nearly

everything you do, so it’s natural to be scared if your

larynx must be removed. Losing the ability to talk is

hard. It takes practice and patience to learn new ways

to speak.

Before surgery or soon after, the speech-language

pathologist can describe your choices for speech:

• Electric larynx: An electric larynx is a small device

that can help you talk after your larynx has been

removed. It’s powered by a battery. The electric

larynx makes a humming sound like the vocal cords.

Some models are used in the mouth whereas other

models are placed on the neck.

27
• Esophageal speech: There is no device to carry

around for esophageal speech because the sound is

made with air. A speech-language pathologist can

teach you how to release air like a burp from the

walls of your throat. It takes practice, but you can

learn how to form words from the released air with

the lips, tongue, and teeth.

• Tracheoesophageal puncture: The surgeon makes a

small opening between your trachea and esophagus,

and a small device is placed in the opening. With

practice, you can learn to speak by covering the

stoma and forcing air through the device. The air

makes sound by vibrating the walls of your throat.

Speech therapy will generally begin as early as

possible. If you have surgery, speech therapy may

continue after you leave the hospital.

28

You may want to ask your speech-language

pathologist these questions:

• What kind of swallowing and speech problems

should I tell my health care team about? What

can a speech-language pathologist do for me?

• If I have surgery to remove the larynx, how

will I communicate with my health care team

while I’m in the hospital? What can I do to

prepare myself and my family?

• If my larynx is removed, which methods of

speech do you suggest for me?

• If an electric larynx is right for me, how would

I choose the best model?

• Can you recommend a support group for

people with swallowing or speech problems?
Follow-up Care

You’ll need regular checkups (such as every two

months for the first year) after treatment for laryngeal

cancer. Checkups help ensure that any changes in your

health are noted and treated if needed.

Laryngeal cancer may come back after treatment.

Your doctor will check for return of cancer. Checkups

may include a physical exam, blood tests, a chest x-ray,

a CT scan, or an MRI.

People who have had laryngeal cancer have a

chance of developing a new cancer. A new cancer is

especially likely for those who use tobacco or who

drink alcohol heavily. Doctors strongly urge people

who have had laryngeal cancer to stop using tobacco

and stop drinking alcohol to cut down the risk of a new

cancer and other health problems.

NCI has publications to help answer questions about

follow-up care and other concerns. You may find it

helpful to read the NCI booklet Facing Forward: Life

After Cancer Treatment. You may also want to read the

NCI fact sheet Follow-up Care After Cancer

Treatment.

Sources of Support 

Learning that you have laryngeal cancer can change

your life and the lives of those close to you. These

changes can be hard to handle. It’s normal for you,

your family, and your friends to need help coping with

the feelings that a diagnosis of cancer can bring.

Concerns about treatments and managing side

effects, hospital stays, and medical bills are common.

You may also worry about caring for your family,

keeping your job, or continuing daily activities.

29
Here’s where you can go for support:

• Doctors, nurses, and other members of your health

care team can answer questions about treatment,

working, or other activities.

• Social workers, counselors, or members of the

clergy can be helpful if you want to talk about your

feelings or concerns. Often, social workers can

suggest resources for financial aid, transportation,

home care, or emotional support.

• Support groups also can help. In these groups,

patients or their family members meet with other

patients or their families to share what they have

learned about coping with cancer and the effects of

treatment. Groups may offer support in person, over

the telephone, or on the Internet. You may want to

talk with a member of your health care team about

finding a support group.

• NCI’s Cancer Information Service can help you

locate programs and services for people with cancer.

Call 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or

chat using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant messaging

service, at http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.

For tips on coping, you may want to read the NCI

booklet Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer.

30
Taking Part in Cancer Research

Doctors all over the world are conducting many

types of clinical trials (research studies in which people

volunteer to take part). Clinical trials are designed to

find out whether new treatments are safe and effective.

Even if the people in a trial do not benefit directly

from a treatment, they may still make an important

contribution by helping doctors learn more about

laryngeal cancer and how to control it. Although

clinical trials may pose some risks, doctors do all they

can to protect their patients.

Doctors are studying new treatments and

combinations of treatments for laryngeal cancer:

• Surgery and targeted therapy 

• Surgery, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy 

• Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and

targeted therapy 

• Radiation therapy and chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy and targeted therapy 

If you’re interested in being part of a clinical trial,

talk with your doctor. You may want to read the NCI

booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research

Studies. It describes how treatment studies are carried

out and explains their possible benefits and risks.

NCI’s Web site includes a section on clinical trials at

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials. It has general

information about clinical trials as well as detailed

information about specific ongoing studies for people

with laryngeal cancer.

Also, NCI’s Cancer Information Service can

provide information about clinical trials. Call

1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). Or chat

using LiveHelp, NCI’s instant messaging service, at

http://www.cancer.gov/livehelp.

31
Dictionary

Definitions of thousands of terms are on NCI Web’s

site in NCI’s Dictionary of Cancer Terms. You can

access it at http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary. 

Benign (beh-NINE): Not cancerous. Benign tumors

may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the

body. Also called nonmalignant.

Biopsy (BY-op-see): The removal of cells or tissues for

examination by a pathologist. The pathologist may

study the tissue under a microscope or perform other

tests on the cells or tissue.

Blood vessel: A tube through which the blood

circulates in the body. Blood vessels include a network

of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

Cancer (KAN-ser): A term for diseases in which

abnormal cells divide without control and can invade

nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other

parts of the body through the blood and lymph

systems.

Cartilage (KAR-tih-lij): A tough, flexible tissue that

lines joints and gives structure to the nose, ears, larynx,

and other parts of the body.

Cell (sel): The individual unit that makes up the tissues

of the body. All living things are made up of one or

more cells.

Cetuximab (seh-TUK-sih-mab): A monoclonal

antibody used to treat certain types of head and neck

cancer, and colorectal cancer that has spread to other

parts of the body. It is also being studied in the

treatment of other types of cancer. Monoclonal

antibodies are made in the laboratory and can locate

and bind to cancer cells. Also called Erbitux.

Chemotherapy (KEE-moh-THAYR-uh-pee):

Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.

32
Clinical trial (KLIH-nih-kul TRY-ul): A type of

research study that tests how well new medical

approaches work in people. These studies test new

methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or

treatment of a disease. Also called clinical study.

Contrast material: A dye or other substance that helps

show abnormal areas inside the body. It is given by

injection into a vein, by enema, or by mouth. Contrast

material may be used with x-rays, CT scans, MRI, or

other imaging tests.

CT scan: A series of detailed pictures of areas inside

the body taken from different angles. The pictures are

created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. Also

called CAT scan, computed tomography scan,

computerized axial tomography scan, and

computerized tomography.

Dentist: A health professional who specializes in

caring for teeth, gums, and other tissues in the mouth.

Digestive tract (dy-JES-tiv): The organs through

which food and liquids pass when they are swallowed,

digested, and eliminated. These organs are the mouth,

esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and

rectum and anus.

Epiglottis (ep-ih-GLAH-tis): The flap that covers the

trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter

the lungs.

Esophageal speech (ee-SAH-fuh-JEE-ul): Speech

produced by trapping air in the esophagus and forcing

it out again. It is used after removal of a person’s

larynx.

Esophagus (ee-SAH-fuh-gus): The muscular tube

through which food passes from the throat to the

stomach.

33
General anesthesia (JEN-rul A-nes-THEE-zhuh): A

temporary loss of feeling and a complete loss of

awareness that feels like a very deep sleep. It is caused

by special drugs or other substances called anesthetics.

General anesthesia keeps patients from feeling pain

during surgery or other procedures.

Glottis (GLAH-tis): The middle part of the larynx; the

area where the vocal cords are located.

HPV: A type of virus that can cause abnormal tissue

growth (for example, warts) and other changes to cells.

Infection for a long time with certain types of HPV can

cause cervical cancer. HPV may also play a role in

some other types of cancer, such as anal, vaginal,

vulvar, penile, oropharyngeal, and squamous cell skin

cancers. Also called human papillomavirus (PA-pihLOH-muh-VY-rus).

Intravenous (IN-truh-VEE-nus): Into or within a vein.

Intravenous usually refers to a way of giving a drug or

other substance through a needle or tube inserted into a

vein. Also called IV.

Laryngeal cancer (luh-RIN-jee-ul KAN-ser): Cancer

that forms in tissues of the larynx (area of the throat

that contains the vocal cords and is used for breathing,

swallowing, and talking). Most laryngeal cancers are

squamous cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in flat

cells lining the larynx).

Laryngoscope (luh-RIN-goh-SKOPE): A thin, tubelike instrument used to examine the larynx (voice box).

A laryngoscope has a light and a lens for viewing and

may have a tool to remove tissue.

Laryngoscopy (LA-rin-GOS-koh-pee): Examination

of the larynx (voice box) with a mirror (indirect

laryngoscopy) or with a laryngoscope (direct

laryngoscopy).

34
Larynx (LAYR-inks): The area of the throat

containing the vocal cords and used for breathing,

swallowing, and talking. Also called voice box.

Laser (LAY-zer): A device that forms light into

intense, narrow beams that may be used to cut or

destroy tissue, such as cancer tissue. Lasers are used in

microsurgery, photodynamic therapy, and many other

procedures to diagnose and treat disease.

Local anesthesia (LOH-kul A-nes-THEE-zhuh): A

temporary loss of feeling in one small area of the body

caused by special drugs or other substances called

anesthetics. The patient stays awake but has no feeling

in the area of the body treated with the anesthetic.

Lymph node (limf node): A rounded mass of

lymphatic tissue that is surrounded by a capsule of

connective tissue. Lymph nodes filter lymph

(lymphatic fluid), and they store lymphocytes (white

blood cells). They are located along lymphatic vessels.

Also called lymph gland.

Lymph vessel (limf): A thin tube that carries lymph

(lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the

lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.

Malignant (muh-LIG-nunt): Cancerous. Malignant

tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and

spread to other parts of the body.

Medical oncologist (MEH-dih-kul on-KAH-loh-jist):

A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating

cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy,

biological therapy, and targeted therapy. A medical

oncologist often is the main health care provider for

someone who has cancer. A medical oncologist also

gives supportive care and may coordinate treatment

given by other specialists.

35
Mental health counselor: A specialist who can talk

with patients and their families about emotional and

personal matters, and can help them make decisions.

Metastatic (meh-tuh-STA-tik): Having to do with

metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the

place where it started to other places in the body.

MRI: A procedure in which radio waves and a

powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to

create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These

pictures can show the difference between normal and

diseased tissue. MRI makes better images of organs

and soft tissue than other scanning techniques, such as

CT scan or x-ray. MRI is especially useful for imaging

the brain, the spine, the soft tissue of joints, and the

inside of bones. Also called magnetic resonance

imaging.

Nodule (NOD-yool): A growth or lump that may be

malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer).

Oncology nurse (on-KAH-loh-jee): A nurse who

specializes in treating and caring for people who have

cancer.

Organ: A part of the body that performs a specific

function. For example, the heart is an organ.

Otolaryngologist (OH-toh-LA-rin-GAH-loh-jist): A

doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the ear,

nose, and throat. Also called ENT doctor.

Pathologist (puh-THAH-loh-jist): A doctor who

identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a

microscope.

Plastic surgeon (PLAS-tik SER-jun): A surgeon who

specializes in reducing scarring or disfigurement that

may occur as a result of accidents, birth defects, or

treatment for diseases.

36
Polyp (PAH-lip): A growth that protrudes from a

mucous membrane.

Radiation oncologist (RAY-dee-AY-shun on-KAHloh-jist): A doctor who specializes in using radiation to

treat cancer.

Radiation therapy (RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uhpee): The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays,

gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to

kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Reconstructive surgeon (REE-kun-STRUK-tiv SERjun): A doctor who can surgically reshape or rebuild

(reconstruct) a part of the body, such as a woman’s

breast after surgery for breast cancer.

Registered dietitian (dy-eh-TIH-shun): A health

professional with special training in the use of diet and

nutrition to keep the body healthy. A registered

dietitian may help the medical team improve the

nutritional health of a patient.

Risk factor: Something that increases the chance of

developing a disease. Some examples of risk factors

for cancer are age, a family history of certain cancers,

use of tobacco products, being exposed to radiation or

certain chemicals, infection with certain viruses or

bacteria, and certain genetic changes.

Scalpel (SKAL-pul): A small, thin knife used for

surgery.

Side effect: A problem that occurs when treatment

affects healthy tissues or organs. Some common side

effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, pain, nausea,

vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and

mouth sores.

37
Speech-language pathologist (puh-THAH-loh-jist): A

specialist who evaluates and treats people with

communication and swallowing problems. Also called

speech therapist.

Subglottis (SUB-glot-is): The lowest part of the

larynx; the area from just below the vocal cords down

to the top of the trachea.

Supportive care: Care given to improve the quality of

life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening

disease. The goal of supportive care is to prevent or

treat as early as possible the symptoms of a disease,

side effects caused by treatment of a disease, and

psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to

a disease or its treatment. Also called comfort care,

palliative care, and symptom management.

Supraglottis (SOO-pra-GLOT-is): The upper part of

the larynx (voice box), including the epiglottis; the area

above the vocal cords.

Surgeon (SER-jun): A doctor who removes or repairs a

part of the body by operating on the patient.

Surgery (SER-juh-ree): A procedure to remove or

repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease

is present. An operation.

Targeted therapy (TAR-geh-ted THAYR-uh-pee): A

type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances,

such as monoclonal antibodies, to identify and attack

specific cancer cells. Targeted therapy may have fewer

side effects than other types of cancer treatments.

Thyroid hormone (THY-royd HOR-mone): A

hormone that affects heart rate, blood pressure, body

temperature, and weight. Thyroid hormone is made by

the thyroid gland and can also be made in the

laboratory.

38
Tissue (TISH-oo): A group or layer of cells that work

together to perform a specific function.

Trach tube (trake): A 2-inch- to 3-inch-long curved

metal or plastic tube placed in a surgically created

opening (tracheostomy) in the windpipe to keep it

open. Also called tracheostomy tube.

Trachea (TRAY-kee-uh): The airway that leads from

the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi (large airways

that lead to the lungs). Also called windpipe.

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TRAY-kee-oh-ee-SAHfuh-JEE-ul PUNK-cher): A small opening made by a

surgeon between the esophagus and the trachea. A

valve keeps food out of the trachea but lets air into the

esophagus for esophageal speech.

Tumor (TOO-mer): An abnormal mass of tissue that

results when cells divide more than they should or do

not die when they should. Tumors may be benign (not

cancer), or malignant (cancer). Also called neoplasm.

Virus (VY-rus): In medicine, a very simple

microorganism that infects cells and may cause

disease. Because viruses can multiply only inside

infected cells, they are not considered to be alive.

Vocal cord (VOH-kul kord): One of two small bands

of muscle within the larynx that vibrates to produce the

voice.

X-ray: A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses,

x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making

pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays

are used to treat cancer. 

39
National Cancer Institute Publications

NCI provides publications about cancer, including

the booklets and fact sheets mentioned in this booklet.

Many are available in both English and Spanish.

You may read these publications online and print

your own copy. Also, people in the United States and

its territories may order NCI publications:

• By telephone: People in the United States and its

territories may order these and other NCI

publications by calling NCI’s Cancer

Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER

(1–800–422–6237).

• On the Internet: Many NCI publications may 

be viewed, downloaded, and ordered from 

http://www.cancer.gov/publications. This Web site

also explains how people outside the United States

can mail or fax their requests for NCI booklets.

Cancer Treatment and Supportive Care

• How To Find a Doctor or Treatment Facility If You

Have Cancer (also in Spanish)

• Radiation Therapy and You

• Chemotherapy and You

• Targeted Cancer Therapies

• Pain Control (also in Spanish)

• Eating Hints (also in Spanish)

Coping with Cancer

• Taking Time: Support for People with Cancer 

40
Life After Cancer Treatment

• Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment (also

in Spanish)

• Follow-up Care After Cancer Treatment

• Facing Forward: Ways You Can Make a Difference

in Cancer

Advanced or Recurrent Cancer

• Coping With Advanced Cancer

• When Cancer Returns

Complementary Medicine

• Thinking about Complementary & Alternative

Medicine

Caregivers

• When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for

Cancer: Support for Caregivers

• When Someone You Love Has Advanced Cancer:

Support for Caregivers

• Facing Forward: When Someone You Love Has

Completed Cancer Treatment

• Caring for the Caregiver: Support for Cancer

Caregivers

Quitting Smoking

• Clearing the Air: Quit Smoking Today

Research Studies

• Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies

• Providing Your Tissue for Research: What You Need

To Know

• Donating Tissue for Cancer Research: Biospecimens

and Biorepositories

41
National Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders

The National Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders (NIDCD) supports and

conducts research and research training on the normal

and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell,

taste, voice, speech, and language.

The Institute provides health information to the

public, health professionals, patients, and industry

representatives on the Internet and through the NIDCD

Information Clearinghouse. Information specialists at

the Clearinghouse are available by phone (toll-free), 

e-mail, and mail to help you find resources related to

NIDCD’s seven areas of research.

People who are undergoing treatment for laryngeal

cancer may be interested in the following NIDCD fact

sheets, available in both English and Spanish:

• Dysphagia

• Taking Care of Your Voice

• Taste Disorders

• Vocal Cord Paralysis

Materials are available online at 

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov, or by contacting the

NIDCD Clearinghouse:

National Institute on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders Clearinghouse

1 Communication Avenue

Bethesda, MD 20892–3456

Tel: 800–241–1044

TTY: 800–241–1055

E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov

42
The National Cancer Institute 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the

National Institutes of Health, is the Federal

Government’s principal agency for cancer research

and training. NCI conducts and supports basic and

clinical research to find better ways to prevent,

diagnose, and treat cancer. The Institute also supports

education and training for cancer research and

treatment programs. In addition, NCI is responsible

for communicating its research findings to the

medical community and the public.

Copyright permission

You must have permission to use or reproduce the

artwork in this booklet for other purposes. The

artwork was created by private sector illustrators,

designers, and/or photographers, and they retain the

copyrights to artwork they develop under contract to

NCI. In many cases, artists will grant you permission,

but they may require a credit line and/or usage fees.

To inquire about permission to reproduce NCI

artwork, please write to: 

Office of Communications and Education

National Cancer Institute

6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 3066 

MSC 8323

Rockville, MD 20892–8323

You do not need our permission to reproduce or

translate NCI written text. The written text of this

NCI booklet is in the public domain, and it is not

subject to copyright restrictions. However, we would

appreciate a credit line and a copy of your translation

of this NCI booklet.
NIH Publication No.10-1568

Revised August 2010

Printed September 2010