What Are the Treatments for Epiglottis Cancer?

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates 24,000 people are diagnosed with some form of throat cancer each year. These cancers affect the throat itself, the voice box and the epiglottis, which is a small flap that covers the windpipe to keep food and liquids from entering the lungs. When tumors are present in the throat area, there are a number of treatment options for patients looking to beat this potentially deadly disease.

Surgery

• When possible, doctors will attempt the removal of tumors in the throat by a surgical procedure. This is the oldest form of cancer treatment and is often used to diagnose any spread of the disease and determine its severity, also known as "staging" the cancer.

  Surgery to completely rid someone of his or her cancer is known as curative surgery, according to the ACS. These procedures are only done when it is evident that the cancer has not spread.

Radiation

• Throat cancers are commonly treated with radiation, which works by shrinking cancer cells or making them disappear completely. This treatment is useful on cancer contained to one area, but also can be used as a preventative treatment in areas where some cells may have spread but not been detected yet.

  In cases where cancer has spread too far to be effectively cured, radiation can be used to provide relief to patients coping with pain, trouble swallowing or breathing that is associated with advanced cases.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that involves the oral, injectable or intravenous administration of different cancer drugs. Chemo, as it is commonly called, may be given before or after surgery or along with radiation treatment. For throat cancer, doctors will typically begin a program of appropriate cancer drugs (usually a combination of different types) that aim to destroy cancer cells or prevent their division and spread, according to the ACS.

  Chemotherapy has been known to provide excellent results, but since the drugs circulate through the entire body and destroy more than just cancer, they will also have noticeable side effects. Among the common side effects are the potential to lose one's hair, vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, bruising easily and a weakened immune system.