Cancer Head & Neck Cancer An Overview of Throat Cancer By Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed is a freelance medical writer, cancer educator and patient advocate. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 21, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by William Truswell, MD Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Facebook LinkedIn William Truswell, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is president of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Throat cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the pharynx (throat). There are several types of throat cancer, including nasopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and pharyngeal cancer. Symptoms Symptoms may vary based on tumor location and type. Many of the symptoms can be easy to ignore, especially if they aren't causing severe distress. But it's important to get medical attention if you develop any bothersome symptoms affecting your mouth or throat. Common symptoms of throat cancer: Persistent cough Difficulty swallowing Persistent hoarseness of the voice or having to clear the throat frequently Sore throat Bloody sputum Lump in the throat Change in the sound of your voice Abnormal breathing sounds Lumps on the neck Symptoms may come and go. Persistent doesn't always mean constant. For example, you may have a sore throat for a week that goes away for a few days and then returns. If you experience intermittent or constant symptoms for two weeks or longer, you should make an appointment to see a healthcare professional. A delay in your diagnosis may affect your treatment outcome. Causes Illustration by Nusha Ashjaee, Verywell Smoking is a well-known cause of throat cancer. Smoking exposes your body to carcinogens, which are chemicals that cause cells in the body to become cancerous. Researchers have also identified several risk factors that can increase the risk of cancer, especially among people who smoke. Some of these factors can independently cause throat cancer, and can also work as co-carcinogens—which means that they amplify the ability of carcinogens (like tobacco) to cause cancer. For example, alcohol enhances the ability of tobacco to cause cancer. Risk factors and causes of throat cancer include: Alcohol consumption Human papillomavirus (HPV) via unprotected oral sex Immunodeficiencies Dietary exposures Epstein-Barr virus Occupational exposure Diet Radiation Betel nut chewing Mouthwash Genetic predisposition Diagnosis A throat cancer diagnosis may be prompted by the symptoms. At your medical appointment, your doctor will review your health history to determine whether you may be at risk for throat cancer. If you are a smoker, or if you drink alcohol, or if you have any other habits that may be unfavorable to your health, it's important to let them know. During your physical exam, your doctor will feel your throat area for any lumps or other abnormalities. If you have signs of throat cancer, you may be referred to an otolaryngologist, also called an ENT specialist. This type of doctor specializes in conditions that are related to the ears, nose, and throat. Diagnostic Procedures and Staging Your ENT may examine you with a laryngoscopy. During this procedure, a thin, fiber-optic scope is fed down the throat, so your doctor can see the back of your throat, larynx, and vocal cords. During a laryngoscopy, a sample of tissue may be taken if any suspicious areas are discovered. This is called a biopsy and it can be examined with a microscope to determine whether there are cancer cells in the sample. If cancer is found, it is necessary to determine whether it has spread to nearby tissues or organs. This process is called staging. The stage of throat cancer will affect which treatment method will be recommended for you. Treatment Several factors are taken into consideration when a treatment plan is developed for throat cancer. Factors that guide treatment include: Age and overall general healthType and location of the cancerWhether or not the cancer has spread Surgery and radiation therapy are standard methods of treatment for throat cancer. Surgical removal is often done in all stages of this condition, and can sometimes cure early-stage throat cancer. Surgery can involve laser therapy to remove cancerous tissue, or it may be invasive and extensive. Radiation therapy is a primary treatment, and it's sometimes used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells or to remove cancerous tissue that could not be removed during surgery. Some people who have throat cancer may undergo chemotherapy to treat the disease. It is normally prescribed in conjunction with other treatment methods, like surgery and/or radiation therapy, as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. Signs of Throat Cancer to Watch Out For Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gleeson M, Herbert A, Richards A. Management of lateral neck masses in adults. BMJ. 2000;320(7248):1521-1524. doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7248.1521 Freedman ND, Schatzkin A, Leitzmann MF, Hollenbeck AR, Abnet CC. Alcohol and head and neck cancer risk in a prospective study. Br J Cancer. 2007;96(9):1469-74. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603713 Paul BC, Chen S, Sridharan S, Fang Y, Amin MR, Branski RC. Diagnostic accuracy of history, laryngoscopy, and stroboscopy. Laryngoscope. 2013;123(1):215-9. doi:10.1002/lary.23630 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Throat Cancer Treatment. Yamazaki H, Suzuki G, Nakamura S, et al. Radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer-technical aspects and alternate fractionation. J Radiat Res. 2017;58(4):495-508. doi:10.1093/jrr/rrx023 Additional Reading American Cancer Society. What Is Cancer? National Institutes of Health. Cancer - Throat or Larynx. Updated 28 Feb 2011.