Your treatment will be planned by the hospital head and neck multidisciplinary team of doctors and other healthcare professionals. When thinking about your treatment, your doctors will take into account:

the type of cancer you have

how big the cancer is, and where it is

whether it has spread, and where to

your age and general state of health

your wishes.

Your doctor and other specialists will tell you about the benefits, risks and side-effects of the treatments being offered.

You may attend a specialist clinic to discuss the results of your tests and the treatment options available. As well as the consultants, other specialists may attend these clinics. You may meet a specialist nurse, a speech and language therapist, a dentist, a dietitian, and an oncologist (a specialist in cancer tumours and their treatment). You may have the opportunity to look at information videos, and to meet a laryngectomee (someone who has had their voicebox removed).

You will then need to agree to the treatment before it can start. This is called giving your consent. Don't be afraid to ask questions if there is anything you don't understand.

It is a good idea to think about whether your treatment plan will have any practical or financial implications for you and your family. Your specialist cancer nurse will be able to talk to you about these, and tell you about other sources of help and support.

Small cancers of the larynx
Larger cancers of the larynx
Palliative treatment and supportive care

Related links
Giving your consent

Related links
The NHS cancer referral guidelines
MRI scan - general