A tracheostomy is a medical procedure to insert a hole through the neck into the direct airway that allows a patient to breathe when he or she is unable to do so independently. This procedure is commonly associated with advanced diseases such as lung cancer or chronic respiratory illnesses. The amount of time someone can live with a tracheostomy is relative to the underlying reason for needing the procedure; therefore the prognosis of the disease is more indicative of life expectancy than the actual procedure itself.