# Laryngeal cancer surgery > Surgery for cancer of the voice box, from laser removal through the mouth to partial and total laryngectomy, planned around voice, breathing and swallowing. Source: https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/laryngeal-cancer-surgery/ Updated: 2026-10-13 Surgery for cancer of the voice box, from removal of small tumours through the mouth with a laser to partial and total laryngectomy, planned with voice, breathing and swallowing in mind. Medically reviewed by [Prof. Dr. Günter Hafız](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/about/)October 9, 2026updated October 13, 2026 Plate III https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/laryngeal-cancer-surgery/ At a glance Who it is for Adults with a cancer of the voice box (larynx) at any stage Anaesthesia General anaesthesia Hospital stay Same day or one night for laser surgery; longer for open operations First step A consultation with your endoscopy findings, biopsy report and imaging ## Anatomy · Plate III ### The larynx, seen from the front in section 1. **Epiglottis**The flap at the top of the larynx that covers the airway when you swallow. 2. **Supraglottis**The part above the vocal cords, with the false cords. 3. **Vocal cords (glottis)**The two folds that meet and vibrate to make the voice. 4. **Subglottis**The part below the vocal cords, down to the windpipe. 5. **Thyroid cartilage**The shield that protects the larynx; it forms the Adam's apple. 6. **Cricoid cartilage**The ring at the base of the larynx. 7. **Trachea (windpipe)**The airway that leads down to the lungs. Simplified drawing, not to scale. The voice box (larynx) sits at the top of the windpipe. It produces the voice, protects the airway during swallowing and lets us breathe. Cancer of the larynx is one of the more common cancers of the head and neck, and when it is found early it can often be treated well. Laryngeal cancer surgery is one of the three main areas of Prof. Hafız’s work. ## What it is Laryngeal cancer surgery removes a tumour of the vocal cords or of the parts of the larynx above and below them. The operation is matched to the size and position of the tumour. Small tumours can be removed through the mouth with a laser (transoral laser microsurgery). Larger ones may need a partial laryngectomy, which removes part of the larynx and keeps the rest working. Advanced tumours may need a total laryngectomy, in which the whole larynx is removed and the windpipe is brought out to an opening in the neck (a stoma) for breathing. ## Who it is for Adults with a biopsy-proven cancer of the larynx, adults with a suspicious lesion of the vocal cords, and people whose cancer has returned after radiotherapy. Treatment after earlier therapy is planned with particular care. ## Symptoms and diagnosis Hoarseness that lasts more than a few weeks is the most important warning sign, particularly in smokers. Other symptoms are a change in the voice, pain or difficulty on swallowing, ear pain, a lump in the neck, noisy breathing or shortness of breath. Diagnosis starts with an examination of the larynx with a thin flexible or rigid endoscope in the consultation room. A biopsy under general anaesthesia (microlaryngoscopy) confirms the diagnosis, and imaging with CT or MRI shows how deep the tumour reaches and whether the lymph nodes of the neck are involved. ## How the operation is done All laryngeal operations are performed under general anaesthesia. In transoral laser surgery a tube is placed through the mouth to expose the larynx, and the tumour is removed under a microscope with a carbon dioxide laser, layer by layer, so that healthy tissue is spared. Open partial laryngectomy removes the affected part of the larynx through a neck incision and rebuilds the remaining structures with the aim of keeping breathing, voice and swallowing working. Total laryngectomy separates the airway from the throat permanently; the throat is closed so that swallowing continues by the normal route, and a small valve (voice prosthesis) can be placed between the windpipe and the gullet so that speech is possible again. Lymph nodes of the neck are removed in the same operation when needed. ## Recovery After laser surgery most people go home the same day or the next, and the voice usually recovers over a few weeks as the area heals. After a partial laryngectomy the hospital stay is longer, and swallowing is relearned with the help of a therapist. After a total laryngectomy, breathing through the stoma, care of the stoma and speech with the prosthesis are taught step by step before discharge, and speech with the prosthesis usually develops over the following weeks. Follow-up visits continue at regular intervals for years. ## How Prof. Hafız works Laryngeal and voice-box cancer surgery, transoral laser surgery and airway surgery are among the focus areas of Prof. Hafız’s practice. He is a member of the Laryngology Society, and his published work includes studies on laryngectomy techniques and on quality of life after treatment for laryngeal cancer. The choice between laser, partial and total operations, and between surgery and radiotherapy, is explained with its consequences for voice, breathing and swallowing before any decision is made. ## Signs to have examined - A hoarse voice or a change in the voice that does not go away. - A lump or swelling in the neck or throat, or one that is getting bigger. - Pain or difficulty swallowing. Difficulty breathing needs medical help at once. These signs are common and usually have another cause. They are a reason to see a doctor or an ear, nose and throat specialist, not a diagnosis. [Write on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/905323748115?text=Hello%2C%20I%20would%20like%20to%20request%20an%20appointment%20with%20Prof.%20Dr.%20G%C3%BCnter%20Haf%C4%B1z.)[+90 532 374 81 15](tel:+905323748115) ## What to expect 1. Before - Examination of the voice box with an endoscope in the consultation room. - A biopsy under general anaesthesia, and CT or MRI to show how deep the tumour reaches. 2. On the day - General anaesthesia. Laser surgery through the mouth, or an operation through the neck, depending on the tumour. - When needed, the lymph nodes of the neck in the same operation. 3. After - After laser surgery, usually home the same day or the next; the voice usually recovers over a few weeks. - After open surgery a longer stay: swallowing is relearned with a therapist and, after a total laryngectomy, speech with a voice prosthesis is taught step by step. - Follow-up visits at regular intervals for years. ## Questions patients ask **Will I lose my voice?** Many laryngeal cancers, especially when found early, can be removed while preserving the voice box. When the whole larynx must be removed, speech can be restored with a voice prosthesis or other methods, and Prof. Hafız discusses this with you before the operation. **What is transoral laser surgery?** An operation in which the tumour is removed through the mouth, under a microscope, with a laser, leaving no cut in the neck. It is used for suitable early tumours. **Can the larynx be saved with radiotherapy instead?** For some tumours radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy is an alternative to surgery. The choice depends on the stage and site of the tumour, on your general health and on your wishes. ## Publications by Prof. Hafız on this subject 1. **Hafız G**, Başaran B, Ulusan M, Comoğlu S. A new extended supracricoid laryngectomy technique for tongue base and hyoid bone involvement: crico-glosso-mandibulopexy technique. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg. 2014;24(3):181-4. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25010810/) 2. Karabulut B, Başaran B, Yenice H, Ulusan M, Orhan KS, **Hafız G**. \[The relationship between operation type, adjuvant radiation therapy, spinal accessory nerve and quality of life in patients with laryngeal cancer\]. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg. 2013;23(3):153-62. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23682939/) 3. Aslan I, Baserer N, Yazicioglu E, Biliciler N, **Hafiz G**, Tinaz M, Kiyak E. The functional and oncologic effectiveness of near-total laryngectomy. Am J Otolaryngol. 2002;23(4):196-202. [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12105783/) [All publications](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/publications/) ## Related areas - [VIITransoral laser surgery](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/transoral-laser-surgery/) - [VINeck dissection and neck masses](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/neck-dissection-neck-masses/) - [IHead and neck cancer surgery](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/head-neck-cancer-surgery/) [All services](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/services/) ## Related reading - [Hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks](https://www.gunterhafiz.com/en/articles/hoarseness-lasting-more-than-three-weeks/) ## References 1. Laryngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)⁠–⁠Patient Version, National Cancer Institute (2025) — [cancer.gov](https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/patient/adult/laryngeal-treatment-pdq) · Accessed 2026-10-08 2. Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 or over, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE guideline NG36) (2016) — [nice.org.uk](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng36) · Accessed 2026-10-08 3. Use of Larynx-Preservation Strategies in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update, Journal of Clinical Oncology (2018) — [doi:10.1200/JCO.2017.75.7385](https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2017.75.7385) 4. Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx: EHNS⁠–⁠ESMO⁠–⁠ESTRO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, Annals of Oncology (2020) — [doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2020.07.011](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2020.07.011) 5. Symptoms of laryngeal cancer, NHS — [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/laryngeal-cancer/symptoms/) · Accessed 2026-10-09 6. Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2015) — [nice.org.uk](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12) · Accessed 2026-10-09 ## Talk it through with Prof. Hafız Consultations at Selenium Plaza, Beşiktaş, Monday to Saturday. Write on WhatsApp or call the practice. [Write on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/905323748115?text=Hello%2C%20I%20would%20like%20to%20request%20an%20appointment%20with%20Prof.%20Dr.%20G%C3%BCnter%20Haf%C4%B1z.)[+90 532 374 81 15](tel:+905323748115)