Surgery is a common treatment of cancer of the hypopharynx. A doctor may remove the larynx and part of the throat in an operation called a laryngopharyngectomy. If smoking is stopped before radiation therapy is started, a patient has a better chance of surviving longer. External radiation to the thyroid or the pituitary gland may change the way the thyroid gland works. The doctor may wish to test the thyroid gland before and after therapy to make sure it is working properly.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. Because the hypopharynx helps people with breathing, eating, and talking, a patient may need special help adjusting to the side effects of the cancer and its treatment. The patient's doctor will consult with several kinds of doctors who can help determine the best treatment. Trained medical staff can also help the patient recover from treatment.