Vocal cords cancer (VCC) is a type of laryngeal cancer that starts in the voice box. It is not very common, making approximately 1% of all male and 0.3% of female malignancies worldwide [1]. In the USA, nearly 13,000 cases are diagnosed yearly, with a 5-year relative survival of about 62.1% [2].
Patients who have a history of prior head and neck cancer have a high risk, about 25%, of developing a second tumor in this anatomical region due to chronic exposure to risk factors like tobacco or alcohol use [3].
Vocal cord cancer, unlike other malignancies, is often diagnosed at an early stage due to changes in the voice, like persistent hoarseness. Thanks to that, patients have a chance to complete tumor eradication, but the treatment is often too aggressive, resulting in irreversible voice damage, compromised breathing, and possible long-term airway support. That’s why it’s important to consider modern treatments that are aimed at preserving the voice center, which will help the patient to keep their voice and quality of life.
What Is Vocal Cord Cancer?
The true vocal cords, where these types of malignancy originate from, are located in the glottis, a central part of the larynx; for this reason, it is classified as glottic cancer. This type of tumor is also called squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords (SCC-VC) because cancerous cells arise from laryngeal epithelium [4].
This type of throat cancer can significantly impact the patient’s voice and cause psychological discomfort in addition to physical discomfort. It is what distinguishes vocal box tumors from other tumors of the larynx, where functional impairment can be less damaging and less immediate.
Why Treatment Choice Is Critical in Vocal Cord Cancer
The choice of treatment for cord cancer is crucial because standard treatment approaches like aggressive surgery or high-dose radiation therapy can result in severe voice alteration and breathing difficulties with a possible need for a tracheostomy. This can significantly impact a patient’s daily communication and career.
Nowadays, oncology teams in leading countries for cancer treatment, such as Germany, are changing the standard approach with emphasis on organ-preserving and function-sparing strategies, including minimally invasive surgery and regional chemotherapy. This can provide a patient with oncologic control and maintain breathing and speaking.
Standard Approaches for Vocal Cord Cancer Treatment
Standard treatment options depend on the stage of the tumor and include [5]:
- Surgery. It includes full removal of the voice cords, called cordectomy, or a procedure that removes only a part of the larynx, called partial laryngectomy. It can be done via laser surgery or an open surgery.
- Radiation therapy. Often, it the used for the early stages of the diseases. It uses radioactive material to destroy abnormal tissue.
- Chemoradiotherapy. It combines radiation with chemotherapy to enhance effectiveness and is often used for advanced tumors to control symptoms.
Innovative Treatment for Vocal Cord Cancer
Dendritic cell vaccination for vocal cord cancer
Dendritic cell therapy for vocal cord cancer is a modern therapy aimed to give you lifelong immunity against the tumor. Dendritic cells are a special immune cell that can influence T-lymphocytes to recognise and destroy cancer cells. This groundbreaking discovery was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011 [6].
The vaccine is created from your blood sample, and your own dendritic cells are getting educated with a specific tumor antigen. Then the vaccine gets injected into your body and immediately starts working, no matter how advanced the stage is, and if the lymph nodes are involved.
This innovative treatment for vocal cord cancer is a life-changing opportunity that can preserve organ function while providing impressive results in tumor control.
Professor Frank Gansauge on Dendritic Cell Therapy:" Why This Can Help You"
Regional chemotherapy for vocal cord cancer
Regional chemotherapy is a treatment for vocal cord cancer that is designed to provide all the benefits of standard chemo, but limit side effects on the whole body due to controlled localized use. The technique is called short-term intra-arterial infusion, and the drugs are delivered through a catheter directly into the artery that supplies the tumor. After, the chemofiltration is performed to remove excess chemotherapy from the blood flow, significantly reducing overall toxicity.
Patients who received regional chemotherapy for head and neck cancers showed impressive tumor regression and prolonged progression-free survival even when the disease was advanced.
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) for Vocal Cord Cancer
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) as a glottic cancer therapy combines chemotherapy with locally applied electric pulses to help the drug get through the cell membrane and increase tumor uptake [8]. The electric impulses temporarily change the cell membrane permeability, allowing the drug molecules to get inside more quickly and in larger amounts. This therapy is performed endoscopically and provides a valuable organ-preserving approach with the ability to limit damage to surrounding tissue, helping preserve not only voice but ability to breathe and swallow.
| Duration | Side Effects | Survival rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional chemotherapy | Multiple sessions (up to 4) | Mild (localized discomfort) | ~80% for advanced cancer |
| Standard chemotherapy | Several cycles, sometimes for month | Severe (nausea, hair loss) | ~20% for advanced cancer |
*Booking Health data
Organ Preservation and Quality of Life
Voice is an essential tool for human communication and career as well as daily quality of life. Treatments that can save vocal cord tissue, such as dendritic cell therapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy, or electrochemotherapy, aim to maintain or restore speech as much as possible.
Another vital larynx function, including vocal cords, is breathing and the airway. Surgical treatment, like laryngectomy, can result in tracheostomy or long-term breathing support, which will limit patients in their daily activities and provide significant mental discomfort. Also, an aggressive surgical approach can cause alteration of external appearance with changes to facial features. This can lead to major psychological issues. In patients with laryngeal cancer prevalence of major depressive disorder was found in 28.5% [9].
That’s why using minimally invasive localized treatment, medical professionals can perform organ preservation vocal cord cancer procedures to minimize visible changes and keep your self-image and confidence.
| Treatment methods | Germany | USA | Great Britain | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgery | €25,000 - €45,000 | €65,000 - €85,000 | €35,000 - €55,000 | €30 000 - €50 000 |
| Chemotherapy | full course €80,000 - €150,000 | full course €100,000 - €180,000 | full course €90,000 - €165,000 | full course €50,000- €200 000 |
| Regional chemotherapy | €45,000 | €40,000 - €100,000 | €25,000 - €45,000 | €30,000 - €150,000 |
*Prices may vary depending on the course of treatment and tumor characteristics
Why Patients Choose to Treat Vocal Cord Cancer Abroad
For many patients with laryngeal cancer, getting treatment abroad means access to advanced technologies and better care than is possible in their home country. Treatment abroad, particularly in Germany, means that you will receive the most innovative approach with the multidisciplinary team of doctors and scientists for all tumor stages, from early diagnosed tumors to advanced stage 4 cancer with metastases. They also provide advanced diagnostic tests like a CAT scan and PET CT scan if necessary and will develop a personalized treatment plan for the best outcomes possible in your case. They also have a team of speech language pathologists and other rehabilitation specialists to help you recover after surgery or other treatments if needed. Choosing Germany for your head and neck cancer treatment means you will experience the best care and a chance to live a whole and active life, even with a tumor diagnosis.
Patient stories
Getting a laryngeal cancer diagnosis is going to radically change your life as a patient, but with the possibility of losing your voice, things can become scarier and more psychologically challenging. In this kind of situation, it is essential to find the right medical team that will guide you through all treatment processes, keeping your best interests in mind.
Take a story of a man in his early 60s who works as a teacher and noticed a sore throat and hoarseness that did not improve over several weeks. He was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer and was offered surgery with further radiotherapy, but the outcomes deeply concerned him. When he got to Germany for the second opinion, he was offered intra-arterial regional chemotherapy. After a few cycles, his tumor became significantly smaller and, most importantly, his ability to speak was preserved. Follow-up showed a strong tumor response going into remission, and the patient was able to return to his job and enjoy daily activities with minimal disruption.
A Medical Journey: Every Step of the Way With Booking Health
Finding the best treatment strategy for your clinical situation is a challenging task. Being already exhausted from multiple treatment sessions, having consulted numerous specialists, and having tried various therapeutic interventions, you may be lost in all the information given by the doctors. In such a situation, it is easy to choose a first-hand option or to follow standardized therapeutic protocols with a long list of adverse effects instead of selecting highly specialized innovative treatment options.
To make an informed choice and get a personalized cancer management plan, which will be tailored to your specific clinical situation, consult medical experts at Booking Health. Being at the forefront of offering the latest medical innovations for already 12 years, Booking Health possesses solid expertise in creating complex cancer management programs in each case. As a reputable company, Booking Health offers personalized vocal cord cancer treatment plans with direct clinic booking and full support at every stage, from organizational processes to assistance during treatment. We provide:
- Assessment and analysis of medical reports
- Development of the medical care program
- Selection of a suitable treatment location
- Preparation of medical documents and forwarding to a suitable clinic
- Preparatory consultations with clinicians for the development of medical care programs
- Expert advice during the hospital stay
- Follow-up care after the patient returns to their native country after completing the medical care program
- Taking care of formalities as part of the preparation for the medical care program
- Coordination and organization of the patient's stay in a foreign country
- Assistance with visas and tickets.
- A personal coordinator and interpreter with 24/7 support
- Transparent budgeting with no hidden costs
Health is an invaluable aspect of our lives. Delegating management of something so fragile yet precious should be done only to experts with proven experience and a reputation. Booking Health is a trustworthy partner who assists you on the way of pursuing stronger health and a better quality of life. Contact our medical consultant to learn more about the possibilities of personalized treatment with innovative methods for vocal cord cancer with leading specialists in this field.
Modern Cancer Treatment: Patient Journeys with Booking Health
Frequently Asked Questions About Vocal Cord Cancer
Send request for treatmentThe 5-year survival rate is about 62.1% for advanced stages and nearly 85% for early diagnosed tumors.
Symptoms often arise early and include persistent hoarseness, voice changes, and difficulty breathing.
Stage 1 characterize a tumor that is limited to one vocal cord and is no more than 2 cm. At this stage, voice preservation and organ-sparing treatment are possible.
The first sign is hoarseness lasting more than 2-3 weeks, especially without signs of infection like high body temperature, fatigue, or voice overuse.
It often varies from the stage and the patient’s needs. Modern treatment approaches, like regional chemotherapy, are recommended to preserve voice and keep quality of life.
Usually, the prognosis is favourable, with the 5-year survival rate being about 62.1% for advanced cancers and nearly 85% for early diagnosed tumors.
Life after tumor diagnosis depends on the therapy performed. With organ-sparing treatments, patients can preserve speech, breathing, and appearance.
Yes. Voice preservation is a key feature of modern treatment. With regional chemotherapy, electrochemotherapy, and dendritic cell therapy, patients can treat cancer without losing their natural voice.
Dendritic cell therapy vocal cord cancer is an amazing new immunotherapy that stimulates T-cells to attack the tumor. It can provide lifelong cancer immunity with minimal side effects.
Regional chemotherapy vocal cord cancer is designed to deliver chemo drugs directly into the site of the tumor, allowing for a reduction in overall toxicity and increasing local drug concentration. It is usually administered through an intra-arterial catheter close to the tumor location.
Electrochemotherapy vocal cord cancer uses electrical pulses to enhance the passage of the drug through the cell wall. This provides limited medication uptake and limits damage to healthy tissue, making it a minimally invasive and organ-preserving procedure.
Yes, early-stage glottic tumors are extremely responsive to innovative treatment for vocal cords cancer, like regional chemotherapy, making them an excellent choice if you want to keep your ability to speak and breathe freely.
Some treatments, like aggressive surgery, can strongly affect quality of life by altering voice, requiring tracheostomy or long-term breathing support, and changing appearance.
Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!
Authors:
This article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, and Dr. Yana Dmytryshyn. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Our editorial policy, which details our commitment to accuracy and transparency, is available here. Click this link to review our policies.
Sources:
[1] National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Laryngeal Cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/laryn.html
[2] Andrew J. Williamson, Sophie Bondje. Glottic Cancer. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan. 2023 Jul 17. [NCBI]
[3] Luc G T Morris, Andrew G Sikora, Richard B Hayes, Snehal G Patel, Ian Ganly. Anatomic sites at elevated risk of second primary cancer after an index head and neck cancer. Cancer Causes Control. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2012 May 1. Published in final edited form as: Cancer Causes Control. 2011 Feb 15;22(5):671–679. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9739-2. [DOI] [PMC free article]
[4] James S Lewis Jr. Not Your Usual Cancer Case: Variants of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Head Neck Pathol. 2010 Dec 17;5(1):23–30. doi: 10.1007/s12105-010-0232-0. [DOI] [PMC free article]
[5] PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Laryngeal Cancer Treatment (PDQ®): Health Professional Version. In: PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002. 2025 Feb 25. [NCBI]
[6] Ralph M Steinman. Dendritic cells: understanding immunogenicity. Eur J Immunol. 2007 Nov:37 Suppl 1:S53-60. doi: 10.1002/eji.200737400. [DOI] [PubMed]
[7] Karl R Aigner, Emir Selak, Kornelia Aigner. Short-term intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for head and neck cancer patients maintaining quality of life. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2019 Jan;145(1):261-268. doi: 10.1007/s00432-018-2784-4. Epub 2018 Oct 31. [DOI] [PubMed]
[8] Arnoldas Morozas, Veronika Malyško-Ptašinskė, Julita Kulbacka et al. Electrochemotherapy for head and neck cancers: possibilities and limitations. Front. Oncol., 15 February 2024. Sec. Head and Neck Cancer Volume 14 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1353800. [DOI]
[9] Rebecca L Rohde, Eric Adjei Boakye, Sai Deepika Challapalli et al. Prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with depression among hospitalized patients with head and neck cancer-Results from a national study. Psychooncology. 2018 Dec;27(12):2809-2814. doi: 10.1002/pon.4893. Epub 2018 Oct 4. [DOI] [PubMed]
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