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How are laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers treated?

After laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer is found and staged, your cancer care team will discuss treatment options with you. Depending on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and other factors, your treatment options may include:

Nutrition and supportive care

Getting the right nutrition to stay healthy is important if you have head and neck cancer. The cancer and its treatment can make it hard to swallow, eat, or drink. If this is true for you, you may need a feeding tube. This tube will probably be kept in place during treatment. Sometimes it might need to be left in longer.

Learn more about feeding tubes in Tubes and Drains Used in Cancer Treatment and Care.

Supportive care can ease your physical symptoms and help you cope with the feelings and changes in your life. You might also hear this called palliative care. Anyone diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer may benefit from this type of care. It can be given at any age and at any stage of the illness, anytime you need extra support or have symptoms that need to be controlled.

Learn more in Palliative Care.

Other things to consider

Quitting smoking: If you smoke, it is very important to try to quit before any treatment for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. Smoking can affect your treatment. It can cause a worse response to radiation therapy and make it harder for you to tolerate chemo. It can also lead to poor wound healing after surgery. Smoking after treatment can also increase your chance of getting another new cancer. The best way to improve your chance of survival is to quit smoking for good, before treatment starts if possible. It is never too late to quit. For help, see How To Quit Using Tobacco.

Seeking a second opinion: If time allows, consider getting a second opinion. This can give you more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.

Clinical trials: Clinical trials study new treatments and may offer access to promising options not widely available. They are also how doctors learn better ways to treat cancer. Ask your cancer care team about clinical trials you may qualify for.

Integrative (holistic) and alternative methods: You may hear about herbs, diets, acupuncture, massage, or other ways to relieve your symptoms or treat your cancer. Integrative therapies are used with standard care, while alternative ones replace it. Some of these may help with symptoms, but many aren’t proven to work. Some could even be harmful. Talk with your care team first to make sure they are safe and won’t interfere with treatment.

Choosing to stop treatment or choosing no treatment at all

When treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling your cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.

Choosing not to treat your cancer

Some people might not want to be treated at all, especially if the cancer is advanced. There are many reasons you might decide not to get treatment, but it’s important to talk to your cancer care team as you make that decision. Remember that even if you choose not to treat your cancer, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms.

Hospice care

People with advanced cancer who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people near the end of life.

You and your family are encouraged to talk with your cancer care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other healthcare locations.

Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families.