Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Questions to Ask the Health Care Team

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 09/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will find some questions to ask your doctor or other members of the health care team to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and overall care. Use the menu to see other pages.

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Talking often with the health care team is important to make informed decisions about your health care. These suggested questions are a starting point to help you learn more about your cancer care and treatment. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions that are important to you. You may want to print this list and bring it to your next appointment, or download Cancer.Net’s free mobile app for a digital list and other interactive tools to manage your care. It may also be helpful to ask a family member or friend to come with you to appointments to help take notes.

Questions to ask after getting a diagnosis

  • What type of head and neck cancer do I have? Where exactly is it located?

  • What is the stage and grade of the cancer? What do these classifications mean?

  • Can you explain my pathology report (laboratory test results) to me?

  • Will my cancer be genetically tested?

  • What is the likelihood that this cancer is curable?

Questions to ask about choosing a treatment

  • What are my treatment options?

  • What clinical trials are available for me? Where are they located, and how do I find out more about them?

  • What treatment plan do you recommend? Why?

  • What is the goal of each treatment? Is it to eliminate the cancer, help me feel better, or both?

  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment option, both in the short term and the long term?

  • What can be done to prevent or manage these side effects?

  • Should I talk with another doctor to get a second opinion?

  • Who will be part of my health care team, and what does each member do?

  • Who will be leading my overall treatment?

  • Should I see any other specialists before starting treatment? Should I talk with a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, or plastic surgeon?

  • Can you recommend an oncologic dentist before treatment begins?

  • Can you recommend a speech pathologist before treatment begins?

  • If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?

  • What support services are available for me? To my family?

  • If I have questions or problems, who should I call?

Questions to ask about managing side effects

  • What kind of mouth rinses or toothpaste can I use?

  • How should I treat symptoms related to dry mouth?

  • If I smoke, will quitting help this treatment work better?

  • How will this treatment affect my daily life? Will I be able to work, exercise, and perform my usual activities?

  • Will treatment affect my ability to speak, eat, and swallow? How can this be managed?

  • Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?

  • Could this treatment affect my ability to become pregnant or have children? If so, should I talk with a fertility specialist before cancer treatment begins?

Questions to ask about having surgery

  • What type of surgery will I have?

  • Will lymph nodes need to be removed? If so, what type of neck dissection will be done? What does this mean?

  • How likely is it that I will lose my voice box (larynx)? If this is necessary, what are the options available for voice/speech rehabilitation?

  • Will major reconstruction be needed? How will this affect my ability to speak and eat?

  • How long will the operation take?

  • How long will I be in the hospital?

  • Can you describe what my recovery from surgery will be like?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this surgery? Will this affect my ability to move my shoulder?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about having radiation therapy

  • What type of treatment is recommended?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment?

  • What side effects can I expect during treatment?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

  • Will there be any lasting side effects, such as loss of saliva, loss of taste, or permanent difficulty swallowing?

  • How will I be able to eat a balanced diet if treatment affects my ability to eat the foods I am used to eating?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about having therapies using medication

  • What type of treatment is recommended?

  • What is the goal of this treatment?

  • How long will it take to give this treatment?

  • Will I receive this treatment at a hospital or clinic? Or will I take it at home?

  • What side effects can I expect during treatment?

  • Who should I contact about any side effects I experience? And how soon?

  • What are the possible long-term or late effects of having this treatment?

  • What can be done to prevent or relieve the side effects?

Questions to ask about planning follow-up care

  • What is the chance that the cancer will come back? Should I watch for specific signs or symptoms?

  • What kind of dental care do I need? How often should I see the dentist?

  • What long-term side effects or late effects are possible based on the cancer treatment I received?

  • Do I need to make changes in my diet? Are there certain foods that I should avoid? Can I drink alcohol?

  • Will I need cancer rehabilitation services after treatment? What can I expect?

  • If I smoke, how can you help me quit?

  • What follow-up tests will be needed, and how often will I need them?

  • How do I get a treatment summary and survivorship care plan to keep in my personal records?

  • Who will be leading my follow-up care?

  • What survivorship support services are available to me? To my family?

The next section in this guide is Additional Resources. It offers more resources on this website that may be helpful to you. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.