If I have cancer of the larynx will I need surgery?

When you are diagnosed with this type of cancer part of the treatment is removal of your larynx a surgery called a laryngectomy. This will remove the larynx also called the voice box because it is the source of your voice. After surgery, you will have a permanent opening in your throat called a stoma through which you will breathe from then on.

There are two tubes in your throat. One is the esophagus which transports food to your stomach. The other is the trachea which takes air to your lungs. After a partial or full laryngectomy the trachea will be taking in air and transporting it directly to your lungs. Until the throat tissue heals after surgery, you will be fed through a naso gastric tube. You will be taught a routine of cleaning your tracheal tube. It's the tube inserted to keep your stoma open. Careful cleaning must be done to prevent infection. With your voice box removed you will no longer be speaking as you did. There are several artificial voice boxes which can be inserted to provide a voice.

larynx is an organ in front of the throat which is called as voice box. It is 2 inches wide and long. It has 3 main parts at top, bottom, middle. It's main function is breathing, talking and swallowing.