Resources and books
Organisations, support groups, books, videos and other resources to help you cope with laryngeal cancer and treatment.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Laryngeal cancer support organisations
This UK charity has been set up by cancer specialists and people affected by head and neck cancer. They aim to raise awareness about head and neck cancer, provide information and advice, and act as a voice for people with head and neck cancer and their families. Their website also has stories from people with head and neck cancer.
This is an American organisation. They publish a newsletter online and have a variety of information about having a laryngectomy and other self-help resources on their website.
Tel: 1 866 425 3678
Email: theialoffice@gmail.com
NALC works with 60 UK clubs and communicates with groups in Europe and beyond. They encourage crucial non-medical help and information that comes from the experience of people living with a laryngectomy.
Suite 16
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road
London SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7730 8585
Email: info@laryngectomy.org.uk
The UK professional body for speech therapists. They can advise on speech therapy services and give other information to people who've had a laryngectomy.
Tel: 020 7378 1200
Formed in 1985 to help provide support and understanding for people who have, or need, a laryngectomy. There is a newsletter for members and free books to download.
PO Box 618
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX3 8WX
Telephone: +44 (0) 1422 205522
Email: info@cancerlt.org
The Swallows is a UK charity set up to help support people affected by head and neck cancer. Their website has information about head and neck cancer, what support is available and patient stories. They hold monthly meetings and have a patient and carer support line. They also have an online forum where you can share experiences.
Support line: 07504 725059
Email: info@theswallows.org.uk
General support organisations
Changing Faces provide support and information for people who have any form of facial disfigurement including disfigurement caused by cancer. They also provide a skin camouflage service for people in England and Scotland. Trained volunteers teach people how to apply specialist cover creams.
Phone: 0300 0120 275 (support and advice line)
Head office email: info@changingfaces.org.uk
The contact details for the skin camouflage service are:
Phone: 0300 0120 276
Email: skincam@changingfaces.org.uk
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
Quit smoking is an NHS website dedicated to helping people stop smoking. The website has information on how to quit smoking, as well as information on the NHS Quit smoking app.
SPOHNC is an American organisation with a support network for people with head and neck cancers. They have a survivor to survivor network and some useful information, including clinical trials and products that may be helpful if you've had a head and neck cancer.
Books about laryngeal cancer
John Diamond
Times Books, 1999
ISBN 0091816653
John Diamond's brilliant, realistic and funny account of his diagnosis and treatment for laryngeal cancer.
US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, S Smith (Editor)
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012
ISBN 978 1475010138
Comprehensive information for people who have cancer of the larynx, and their friends and family. This is an American book, so some aspects of treatment and care may differ from what's available in the UK.
Sydney Norgate
Churchill Livingstone, 2013
ISBN 978-0443028526
Practical advice and information, as well as reassurance about the problems caused by the loss of normal speech. It's written in a straightforward, humorous style and is illustrated with cartoons.
Free copies are available for patients and health professionals by emailing: info@cancerlt.org
J E Thomas and R L Keith
Thieme Medical Publishers, 2005
ISBN 3136662040
Information about cancer treatments and how to manage problems with speech and swallowing. It includes exercises for improving speech and swallowing, and tips on tube feeding.
Booklets and factsheets
From Macmillan Cancer Support:
- Understanding chemotherapy
- Understanding radiotherapy
- Coping with hair loss
- Understanding cancer of the voice box (larynx)
- Coping with fatigue
- Eating problems and cancer
- Recipes for people affected by cancer
- Talking about your cancer
- Talking with someone who has cancer
- Cancer and your sex life
- Coping with advanced cancer
- Managing cancer pain
- Understanding cancer research trials (clinical trials)
- Talking to children and teenagers when an adult has cancer
- Work and cancer
- Travel and cancer
Healthtalk.org
Provides free, reliable information about health issues including mental health, by sharing people's real-life experiences.
Find local cancer information and support
The NHS website helps you to find local cancer information and support in England.
