Throat Cancer's Guide

Throat Cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx).

Your throat is a 5-inch-long muscular tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Your voice box sits just below your throat and is also susceptible to throat cancer. Throat cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage (epiglottis) that acts as a lid for your windpipe.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 24,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with throat cancer each year. About half of those throat cancers occur in the pharynx, with the rest occurring in the larynx.



The term head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity (mouth), nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, and larynx. Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, originating from the mucosal lining (epithelium) of these regions. Head and neck cancer is strongly associated with certain environmental and lifestyle risk factors, including tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and certain strains of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus. Head and neck cancer is highly curable if detected early, usually with some form of surgery although chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also play an important role.

Signs and Symptoms
Cancers that involve the throat, base of the tongue, tonsil, pharynx, or tube that extends from the nasal passages to the mouth to the esophagus and sinus are called oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

Symptoms of throat cancer may include:
• A sore throat that does not go away
• Cough
• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Ear pain
• A lump in the back of the mouth, throat or neck
• Advanced tumors may invade the voice box, causing hoarseness or breathing difficulty
• Bleeding from the throat or blood-tinged sputum
Risk factors for developing throat cancer may include:
• Smoking tobacco
• Heavy alcohol use
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables
• Drinking maté, a stimulant drink common in South America
• Chewing betel quid, a stimulant commonly used in parts of Asia
• Being infected with human papillomavirus (HPV)