Your Treatment Pathway: An Overview

When you are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, your care team will work with you to decide the most appropriate treatment. This page explains the usual steps from referral and diagnosis through treatment and follow-up so you know what to expect.

Your first appointment

Many people are first referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist after seeing their GP with ongoing voice or throat symptoms. At your first hospital appointment, the team will ask about your symptoms, your general health, previous medical conditions, and any medicines you take.

They may also ask about smoking and alcohol history because this can be relevant to planning treatment and support.

Nasendoscopy

You may have a nasendoscopy in clinic. This uses a thin flexible camera passed gently through the nose to examine the throat and voice box.

The test usually takes a few minutes. It can feel uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. It helps the team assess what may be causing your symptoms and whether more tests are needed.

Scans and tests

You may need several tests to confirm the diagnosis and help plan treatment. These can include:

• CT scan
• MRI scan
• PET CT scan
• Blood tests
• Biopsy under general anaesthetic

Your team will explain why each test is needed and what the results mean.

What staging means

Staging describes the size of the cancer, whether nearby tissues are involved, whether lymph nodes are involved, and whether the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body.

This information helps your specialist team recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

Your specialist team

Laryngeal cancer treatment is planned by a multidisciplinary team, often called an MDT. This may include head and neck surgeons, clinical oncologists, specialist nurses, speech and language therapists, dietitians, radiologists, pathologists, dentists, and psychological support services.

How treatment is decided

Treatment recommendations are based on several factors, including:

• The size and position of the cancer
• Whether lymph nodes are involved
• Your voice and swallowing function
• Your general health
• Your own priorities and preferences

The team should discuss the aim of treatment, possible benefits, possible risks, and how treatment may affect speech, swallowing, and breathing.

Main treatment options

Treatment may involve:

• Surgery
• Radiotherapy
• Chemoradiotherapy
• Immunotherapy or other systemic treatments
• Supportive or palliative care

Some people need one treatment only, while others need a combination of treatments.

Before treatment

Before treatment starts, you may meet several members of the team and have appointments to help prepare for what lies ahead. This can include treatment planning, speech and language therapy input, dietetic support, and practical conversations about work, transport, family responsibilities, and help at home.

During treatment

During treatment, you will have regular contact with your care team. They will monitor side effects, check how you are managing eating and drinking, and support you if your speech, swallowing, or breathing change.

After treatment and recovery

After treatment, you will continue to attend follow-up appointments. These visits help monitor recovery, review side effects, assess voice and swallowing function, and check for any signs that the cancer may have returned.

Recovery takes time. Some people regain confidence quickly, while others need longer-term support.