Throat Cancer

Treatment

Mayo Clinic doctors use the latest specialized radiation, chemotherapy, surgical and rehabilitation treatment options for throat cancer. Efficient, coordinated evaluations at Mayo Clinic allow surgeons and oncologists to start your treatment quickly, which increases the odds of successful treatment.

Your treatment team takes into account the type and stage of throat cancer and your preferences before recommending a treatment plan. Treatment decisions are made by you and the entire head and neck cancer team, and tailored to your needs, taking into account the characteristics of your tumor, your general health and other personal factors.

People with throat cancer are usually treated with either surgery or radiation therapy. Depending on the tumor stage, a combination of these treatments may be used. Chemotherapy is used with radiation therapy for advanced tumors.

Surgery

Mayo Clinic ear, nose and throat surgeons (otorhinolaryngologists) treat hundreds of people with throat cancer each year. Small and medium tumors may be removed using transoral laser microsurgery. The tumor is accessed via a small tube (laryngoscope) passed through the mouth. Large tumors that have significantly affected a person's ability to eat, speak and breathe may require removal of all or part of the voice box (laryngectomy) through the traditional method of an incision in the throat.

One of Mayo Clinic's strengths is the ability of pathologists to rapidly analyze tissue samples removed in surgery and report results almost instantly to surgeons. This helps surgeons make real-time, informed decisions about the amount of tissue to remove, so they can preserve as much of the function and structure of the throat region as possible.

Transoral robotic surgery

Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota are among the few medical centers in the United States with the capability and experience level to use robotic surgery to treat throat cancer. Transoral robotic surgery is a specialized form of minimally invasive surgery pioneered by Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeons to remove throat tumors through the mouth.

Advantages over traditional surgery include better preservation of organ structure and anatomy, a more rapid return of swallowing function and a shorter hospital stay.

Transoral laser microsurgery

Transoral laser microsurgery is another form of minimally invasive surgery used by Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeons to remove small and medium tumors through the mouth. It's occasionally used for larger tumors. Transoral laser microsurgery allows surgeons to remove tumors from the voice box with no external incisions. It also allows access to tumors that are not reachable with robotic surgery.

A microscope helps the surgeon clearly view the margins of the tumor, minimizing the amount of normal tissue removed or damaged during surgery. This technique helps give you as much speech and swallowing function as possible after surgery.

Reconstructive surgery

Surgery to reconstruct the mouth and throat may sometimes be necessary after treatment. Mayo Clinic head and neck surgeons perform microvascular reconstructive surgery with a focus on improving appearance and restoring as much breathing and swallowing function as possible.

Radiation

At Mayo Clinic, you receive state-of-the-art radiation therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. Cancer specialists (radiation oncologists) tailor treatment sessions for each person and use advanced treatments, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy to deliver precise doses of radiation to tumors with minimal exposure to surrounding normal tissue.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is most often used with radiation therapy to control advanced throat cancer with the goal of preserving the structure and function of the voice box. It is given through a vein or by mouth. This treatment, known as organ preservation therapy, is typically recommended for patients whose only other option is removing the voice box completely (total laryngectomy).

Rehabilitation

Speech-language therapists at Mayo Clinic help people with throat cancer overcome speech and swallowing issues. Dietitians help you choose foods that will reduce problems associated with chewing and swallowing. In addition, physical and occupational therapists help you make the adjustments needed to return to work and everyday life.