The cure rate is high but conventional treatment often results in loss of the voicebox or normal swallowing mechanism. Leeds General Infirmary is the leading centre in the UK for voice preserving surgery for throat cancer. Photo Conventional treatment can result in loss of the voicebox as well as severe difficulties with swallowing and speech. We now have the ability to treat even some very advanced tumours without removal of the voicebox. The key is the use of a special laser to remove the tumour from the inside of the throat rather than through an incision.
Magnification allows the surgeon to distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue.
The laser beam is then used as a cutting and sealing tool precisely following the margins of the tumour.