Hypopharyngeal cancer
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Hypopharyngeal cancer Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Hypopharyngeal cancer On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hypopharyngeal cancer |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Diagnosis
Laboratory Tests
Treatment
- The goal of treatment is to completely remove the cancer and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
Medical Treatment
- When the tumor is larger or has spread to lymph nodes in the neck, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy is often used to preserve the voice box.
Surgery
- When the tumor is small, either surgery or radiation therapy alone can be used to remove the tumor.
Some patients need surgery to remove the tumor, including all or part of the vocal cords (laryngectomy). If you have a laryngectomy, speech therapy can help you learn other ways to talk.
Supportive Treatment
Many patients also need swallowing therapy after treatment to help them adjust to the changes in the structure of the throat.