This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science
This page was updated on July 20, 2022.
Throat cancer develops at the back of the mouth, tonsils, voice box, base of the tongue, sinus and nasal cavities, salivary glands, soft palate and lymph nodes in the neck. According to the American Cancer Society, 21,830 people in the United States will develop cancer of pharynx in 2024, while 12,650 will develop cancer of the larynx. Although incidence and mortality rates for this type of cancer have declined over the past few decades, throat cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are on the rise, particularly among men.
Experts hope increased awareness of throat cancer’s link to HPV, and new and innovative treatment options, will help more patients survive the disease and improve their quality of life. Flexible robotic surgery, for example, is a minimally invasive treatment option that may lead to a quicker recovery for some head and neck cancer patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also has approved immunotherapy drugs, such as checkpoint inhibitors, to treat some cases of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These are among the array of treatment options available to throat cancer patients at City of Hope, where multidisciplinary teams of cancer experts work together to tailor personalized treatment plans to the needs of each patient.
This overview will cover the basic facts about throat cancer, including:
If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of throat cancer and want to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing, or if you’re interested in a second opinion for your throat cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, call us or chat online with a member of our team.
The throat forms the entryway to the digestive and respiratory systems. It is a small but complicated part of the body that connects the nose and mouth to the esophagus, which leads to the stomach, and windpipe, which connects to the lungs. The throat allows us to swallow, breathe and speak. The primary sections of the throat include:
Pharynx: The main area of the throat behind the mouth and above the esophagus is divided into three parts:
Larynx: The voice box is made up of three parts:
There are three main types of throat cancer:
Oropharyngeal cancer forms in the back and side walls of the throat, the soft palate, tonsils and base of the tongue.
Laryngeal cancer forms in the larynx.
Hypopharyngeal cancer forms in the bottom part of the throat.
More than 70 percent of all oropharyngeal cancers are linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV), which may be spread during oral sex, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which adds that HPV is not a known risk factor for cancer of the larynx.
Other risk factors for throat cancer include tobacco smoking, alcohol use and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Many throat cancer patients have a high risk of developing a secondary cancer, typically in the larynx, esophagus or lungs. After treatment ends, some patients may also develop tumors in the lungs, mouth, throat or other nearby area.
Statistics for oropharyngeal and oral cancers are combined. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that about 51,000 Americans a year will develop those cancers, and that more 13,000 people will develop cancer in the larynx annually. According to the NCI:
"I met with my care team to evaluate my specific cancer and discuss treatment. Everyone was so warm, and made us feel safe and at peace. There is simply a wonderful atmosphere of togetherness at the hospital, and I knew it was where I wanted to go for treatment. Later, I learned that is one of the guiding principles of City of Hope—to treat patients as you would any member of your own family."
Oropharyngeal cancers or pre-cancerous conditions in the oropharynx may be detected early during an annual physical with a doctor, during regular dental check-ups or with periodic self-examinations. Sores in the mouth or throat, lumps or white patches may be early signs of oropharyngeal cancer.
Screening for other types of throat cancer may be more difficult. However, these cancers may be detected early by visiting a doctor when symptoms develop. Common symptoms of throat cancer include voice changes, a chronic cough, sore throat or other type of throat pain, difficulty swallowing, lumps or swelling in the throat or lymph nodes.
Diagnosing throat cancer often involves procedures that use some type of scope to examine parts of the mouth, nose, neck and upper digestive system. These procedures include:
Other diagnostic procedures include:
Treatment for throat cancer may depend on the type and stage of the disease, among other factors. Treatment options for throat cancer include:
At City of Hope, we understand how throat cancer and its treatments can impact patients’ quality of life, sometimes in debilitating ways. The two most common treatment-related side effects for throat cancer, for example, are changes in voice and difficulty swallowing. Voice changes are typically caused by surgery to remove the vocal cords. Radiation therapy may also cause hoarseness. Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) may range from chronic dry mouth to an inability to swallow anything, including saliva.
That’s why each throat cancer patient has access to personalized supportive care therapies as part of his or her treatment plan. A speech therapist may help patients restore their ability to speak clearly, while also recommending exercises and other techniques to help manage difficulty swallowing, for example. A pain management physician, meanwhile, can help patients with both prescription narcotics and non-pharmaceutical strategies like nerve blockers and pain pumps to help them find relief.
Throat cancer patients who undergo extensive surgery to remove their tumors also have a reconstructive plastic surgeon on their care team who can help them rebuild their features and restore function. Some may undergo microvascular reconstruction surgery, where tissue from the abdomen, forearm or thigh may be used to reconstruct the nose, tongue or throat. And with 3D modeling, surgeons can map out a craniofacial repair by trying out patient-specific jaw positions with precise anatomical cutting guides. Others may undergo free flap surgery, a precise technique in the field of microvascular surgery that transplants tissue from one area to another by reconnecting tiny blood vessels less than four millimeters in diameter, with a suture thinner than a hair.
Patients who undergo a laryngectomy to remove the larynx (or voice box) may opt for a tracheoesophageal puncture, or TEP, which involves a head and neck surgeon placing a small, one-way valve between the trachea and the esophagus, allowing air to reach the lungs while blocking food, saliva and liquids. The valve also produces a vibration that the patient may use for voicing.
At City of Hope, treating cancer is about more than treating the disease. It requires a holistic, personalized approach to treating the whole patient.
Supportive care therapies that may be recommended to help patients with throat cancer stay strong and maintain their quality of life include:
