How Cancer of the Larynx is Treated There are treatments for all patients with cancer of the larynx. Surgery is a common treatment of cancer of the larynx. 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 used to treat small cancers involving one of the vocal cords.
During laser surgery, a narrow, intense beam of light is used to cut out the cancer without any incisions on the neck. 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. If smoking is stopped before radiation therapy is started, there is a better chance of surviving longer. Surgeons of radiation therapy at The James have developed a team approach using both surgery and specialized irradiation given during the surgery of some of these cancers.