Voice Box Cancer Surgery

Voice Box Cancer or Laryngeal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the larynx (voice box). The larynx is part of the throat found at the entrance of the windpipe. The windpipe plays an important role in helping you breathe and speak.

The voice box cancer surgery to remove the cancerous cells from the larynx can often cure laryngeal cancer if it's diagnosed early.

Voice Box Cancer Surgeon

Dr. Siddharth Shah is an expert and best laryngeal (voice box) cancer surgeon in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He is an expert in treatment of early and advanced laryngeal cancers. His core expertise includes, Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) management of early tonsil, soft palate and tongue base cancers. He is also an expert in management of throat cancers with lasers. He offers screening services for early detection of throat cancers. He also offers counselling for deaddiction.

Voice Box Cancer Surgery in Ahmedabad

Symptoms
Change in voice, difficulty in breathing, noisy breathing, difficulty in swallowing, neck swelling.

Cure/Solution
Early tumors of larynx (stage 1 or 2) can be managed by trans oral laser microsurgery(TLM).
For locally advanced (stage 2 or 3) a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is offered to preserve the organ function.
For very advanced tumors (stage 4), a surgery followed by radiation with or without chemotherapy is the preferred treatment.

Post laryngectomy voice rehabilitation is always offered for all patients either TEP (tracheo oesophageal prosthesis) or electrolayrnx.

Best Surgeon for Voice Box Cancer Surgery in Ahmedabad

Frequently Asked Questions on Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

1. What is larynx cancer?

It is cancer arising from the lining of voice box or the gateway for windpipe.

2. What causes cancer of larynx?

Larynx cancer is most commonly seen in smokers. Other causes could be chronic reflux disease (GERD) andHPV infection (non smokers).

3. Is larynx cancer curable?

These cancers are almost always glottic (vocal cord) cancers that are found early because of voice changes. They are nearly always curable with either endoscopic surgery or radiation therapy. The patient is then watched closely to see if the cancer returns. If the cancer does comes back, radiation can be used

4. Can these cancers be treated without surgery?

Cancers of larynx (voice box) are treated based on its stage. For early stages either single stage surgery (which is trans oral laser microsurgery) or radiation therapy is preferred. For early advanced cancers (stage 3) an approach to conserve the voice is done by giving chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However for very advanced cases (stage 4), one cannot avoid surgery.

5. Is there any chance one can speak after surgery?

Yes. The patients undergoing surgery can very well speak though the natural voice box is removed. The voice and speech following post laryngectomy voice rehabilitation (TEP speech) is very natural and permanent. Please speak to your doctor for further information.

6. What care needs to be taken after surgery?

The most important thing after surgery is that the end stoma is the only available airway and needs to be protected. The entire wind pipe is exteriorised onto the skin over neck region (much likewise colostomy/ileostomy). So the stoma needs to cared for. Patients also need to take care of the TEP as per the guidance. For patients undergoing radiation therapy after surgery, need to also take thyroid replacement for life long.

7. What is the prognosis?

Larynx (voice box) cancer is a considered among relatively good outcome cancers. This cancer because of classical symptoms (voice change) is diagnosed early and so is less metastatic. They are very responsive to all modes of cancers treatment. Even stage 4 cancers have good outcomes.