The valve keeps food out of the trachea . After this operation, patients can cover their stoma with a finger to force air out of their mouths, producing sustained speech. It takes practice and patience to learn new ways of speech after total laryngectomy . Speech therapists help in this regard. Because the nasopharynx is close to vital nerves and blood vessels and not easy to reach, it is very difficult to remove the entire tumor with an adequate margin.
Most patients require radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
Surgery can be used for patients with recurrent disease who have received a maximal dose of radiation. Neck dissection is sometimes performed in conjunction with radiation therapy for patients with a neck lump or mass. Other treatments There are several non-surgical treatment options that may be combined with surgery or used in place of surgery. These treatment options are applicable to all types of Head and Neck Cancers. For Head and Neck Cancer, alternate treatments are important to reduce the need for extensive surgical procedures resulting in loss of function or disfigurement.