But he said the study ignored the fact that, more often than not, chemoradiation does not lead to total laryngectomy, and that it is a risk that comes with the potential upside of preserving the voice. He said he was puzzled about the point of the study.
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September 2009For those patients who don’t have to go to total laryngectomy, they can maintain their voice. They can maintain their quality of life, he said. So there is no comparison.
About two-thirds of patients who are treated with chemoradiation do not have to have a total laryngectomy.
The reason why people are going to be treated with chemoradiation is to preserve their larynxes, Dr. Persky said.
He said patients should be fully informed of the potential complications related to chemoradiation. But those complications are generally worth it, he said. That’s okay, he said. At least you’ve subjected them to some form of therapy that could have potentially saved their larynx.
©2009 The Triological Society
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