Best doctor/hospital for laryngeal cancer (recurrence)?

I don’t hsve experience, but I am so sorry it came back. I hope you get more options. Will be thinking of you.

I am so sorry to hear that.  Keep searching and never give up. I will add you to my prayer list.

Don

aak16, I am so sorry for you to go through this again. I do think your idea of 2nd opinion is a good one. It hasn't spread so that's also good. For what it's worth, there is a woman who goes to regular gym classes who has had a laryngectomy. I haven't bumped into her yet but a family member was telling me how well she does. 

www.cancer.org/cancer/laryngeal-and-hypopharyngeal-cancer/about/new-research.html

Copy and paste the above link, it's the American Cancer Society for Laryngeal Cancer and new treatments, including clinical trails, target threapy, Chemo, radiation & Transoral Surgery. I will continue to do some research and send you links.

I hope this helps. 

Emilymoroz said:

Treatment in unofficial chicago

dear Darcy, just saw your post and saw my moms radiologists last name and wanted to write to you right away. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and right now is undergoing induction chemotherapy before starting radiation and chemo  with dr harAf. she just finished first cycle of chemo. We are very scared of radiation. What was your experience like in university of chicago? Did you look for second opnion? Any suggestions ? My head is spinning from all the questions I would like to ask you. Thank you in advance for all your input!!

Emily, 

We love Dr. Haraf and U of C.  My husband was first seen in Grand Rapids, Mi.  We went to U of M and U of C for treatment options and chose U of C and never regretted it.  5 1/2 years later life is great with minimal lasting side effects.  My husband had ssc of the piriform sinus with 2 lymph nodes affected.  T1N2bM0 stage 4, a very scary diagnosis and we were also very scared of the treatment, it was very difficult but doable.  He also had induction Chemo for 6 weeks followed by 50 in patient radiation sessions with 24/7 chemo over a 10 week period.  The doctors and nurses were all very knowledgable, helpful, supportive and really helped us through the difficult treatment. Everyone is a bit different in how well they tolerate radiation and the location of the tumor also affects outcomes.  The drs at U of C are very good at listening and helping manage the side effects.   I highly recommend them to anyone with a head and neck cancer diagnosis.  Tell your mom there is hope and my husband and many others are proof.  Have her follow the drs. orders, and check this site frequently for support, tips and many others in her posistion.  She is not alone.  I remember the way you are feeling, it is very overwelming and scary.  We just had my husband's 5 year check up several months ago and we will see Dr. Haraf one more time next year.  We will miss seeing him.  Hang in there before you know it, your mom will be through treatment.  

aak,

I am really sorry to hear about this reoccurrence. Please do not blame yourself about not receiving the chemo in your previous treatment. In most cases the chemo adds only a small increase in probability of a beneficial outcome when combined with radiation, something like a 5% increase.

Honestly I have thought to myself if my cancer ever came back that I would possibly consider more surgery or radiation but I would probably pass on more chemo. It makes you very sick, weak, and a long immune recovery. 

The impossible choices you had to make in the beginning of your cancer journey were the best choices for you at the time, period! Now you have new impossible choices to make and I will pray that God will give you peace as you go.

I was always told that the Cancer Centers of America were very good as well and there is one in Philly if that is near you, it sounded like you were in the northeast.

Best.

Jake...

Dr. Stephen Bayles at Virginia Mason.

BEFORE you/MD consider surgery/chemo, please carefully look into targeted therapy and immunotherapy. 

Immunotherapy works amazingly well, but unfortunately only for about 20% of those treated. You may be among responders. If not, you would know in just 2-3 months or so, and THEN you can consider surgery and/or chemotherapy. Please ask about that, either FDA approved, or clinical trials. Combination immunotherapy works best.

Good luck!