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- Diabetes Medicines
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- HIV and Pregnancy
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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
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- How to Lower Cholesterol
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- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Throat Cancer
Summary
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Throat cancer has different names, depending on which part of the throat is affected. The different parts of your throat are called the oropharynx, the hypopharynx, the nasopharynx, and the larynx, or voice box.
The main risk factors for throat cancer are using tobacco heavy drinking. Certain types of throat cancer also have other risk factors. For example, having HPV is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer.
Symptoms of throat cancer may include:
- A sore throat that does not go away
- A lump in the neck
- Pain or ringing in the ears
- Trouble swallowing
- Ear pain
To diagnose throat cancers, doctors may do a physical exam and history, imaging tests, and a biopsy. You may also need other tests, depending on the type of cancer. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Treatment for some types of throat cancer may also include targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
- Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
- NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute
- Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services National Cancer Institute
Diagnosis and Tests
- Can Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Be Found Early? American Cancer Society
- Can Nasopharyngeal Cancer Be Found Early? American Cancer Society
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Can Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Be Prevented? American Cancer Society
Español/Spanish
- Can Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers Be Prevented? American Cancer Society
Statistics and Research
- Cancer of the Larynx National Cancer Institute
- Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx National Cancer Institute
- Key Statistics about Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers American Cancer Society
- Key Statistics about Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers American Cancer Society
- What’s New in Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer Research and Treatment? American Cancer Society
Encyclopedia
- Cancer of the throat or larynx Medical Encyclopedia
- Oropharynx lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
Children
- Childhood Laryngeal Tumors Treatment National Cancer Institute
- Childhood Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment National Cancer Institute
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Laryngeal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Oropharyngeal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pharyngeal Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
Reference Desk
- Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute
- Larynx Anatomy National Cancer Institute
Specifics
- General Information about Laryngeal Cancer National Cancer Institute
- General Information about Nasopharyngeal Cancer National Cancer Institute
- General Information about Oropharyngeal Cancer National Cancer Institute
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Hypopharyngeal Cancer Treatment (Adult) National Cancer Institute
Patient Handouts
- Laryngectomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Swallowing problems Medical Encyclopedia
- Throat or larynx cancer Medical Encyclopedia
Living With
- Living as a Laryngeal or Hypopharyngeal Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society
- Living as a Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society
- Mouth Dryness or Thick Saliva American Cancer Society
Journal Articles
Related Issues
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Laryngeal or Hypopharyngeal Cancer American Cancer Society
Start Here
- Throat Cancer Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- What Are Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers? American Cancer Society
Treatments and Therapies
- Treatment Options for Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancer by Stage American Cancer Society