What are the treatment options for voice box cancer?

The team considers where the tumour is within the voice box, its size, nearby lymph nodes, whether it has spread, and how well you can speak, swallow and breathe. Tumour removal surgery may remove the tumour while preserving as much voice-box function as possible, or may involve more extensive surgery when needed.

Radiotherapy uses focused radiation to treat cancer cells in the voice box and nearby areas. Chemotherapy travels through the bloodstream and may be combined with radiotherapy or used when cancer needs treatment beyond the local area. A speech and language therapist, dietitian and specialist nurse may support recovery.

Ask for an explanation of how each option could affect your voice, swallowing, breathing, taste and nutrition. Before treatment, discuss dental checks, smoking or vaping support, voice rehabilitation and whether a feeding tube or temporary airway support might be needed.

Keep a list of medicines and tell the team about breathing problems, weight changes, swallowing difficulty or previous head and neck treatment. Follow instructions about mouth care, nutrition and exercises during treatment.

Contact your team promptly for increasing hoarseness, pain or difficulty swallowing, fever, dehydration, coughing during meals or a new neck swelling. Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, inability to swallow saliva, or sudden bleeding.

What is the aim of treatment? Could my voice and swallowing be preserved? Would surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy come first? What support will I receive for nutrition and speech? How will treatment response be checked?