A total laryngectomy removes the entire larynx. During this operation, a hole is made in the front of the neck to allow the patient to breathe. This is called a tracheostomy. Laser surgery is being tested in clinical trials for very early cancers of the larynx. During laser surgery, a narrow, intense beam of light is used to cut out the cancer.
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 a 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. People with larynx cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers in the head and neck area. Because the larynx helps with breathing and talking, a patient may need special help adjusting to the side effects of the cancer and its treatment. A patient may need to learn a new way of talking, or may need a special device to help with talking.