Hypopharyngeal Cancer
Head and Neck Program
Treatment Option Overview
There are different types of treatment for patients with
hypopharyngeal cancer.
Different types of treatment are available for patients with
hypopharyngeal cancer. Some treatments
are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in
clinical trials. Before starting
treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. A
treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current
treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer.
When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the
standard treatment, the new
treatment may become the standard treatment.
Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country.
Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the
NCI Web site. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a
decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care
team.
Three types of standard treatment are used:
Surgery
Surgery (removing the cancer in
an operation) is a common treatment for all stages of hypopharyngeal cancer. The following
surgical procedures may be used:
- Laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove the
larynx (voice box) and part of
the pharynx (throat).
- Partial laryngopharyngectomy: Surgery to remove part of the
larynx and part of the pharynx. A partial laryngopharyngectomy prevents loss of
the voice.
- Neck dissection:
Surgery to remove lymph nodes and
other tissues in the neck.
Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the
time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation
therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given
after the surgery, to increase the chances of a cure, is called
adjuvant therapy.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Radiation therapy may be more effective in patients who have
stopped smoking before beginning treatment. External radiation therapy to the
thyroid or the
pituitary gland may change the way
the thyroid gland works. The thyroid gland may be tested before
and after therapy to make sure it is working properly.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Chemotherapy may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical
trials.
Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the
NCI Web site.