Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat
Cancer care
cancer diagnosis

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality life.

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How common is throat cancer?

Below are a series of statistics on throat cancer to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment.

1 in 2310
1 in 2310
1 in 2310
South Africans have a lifetime risk of developing throat cancer.

Other types of cancer

Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.

Bladder cancer

Cancer of the bladder

The fourth most common cancer in men and the twelfth most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer

Cancer of the breast

Cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and can occur in both men and women, but it's far more common in women.

Cervical cancer

Cancer of the cervix

If detected early, cancer of the cervix can be one of the most successfully treatable cancers...

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the rectum or colon

Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common.

Sarcoma

Cancerous tumours of the soft tissues

A broad term for cancers that start in soft tissues like muscle, tendons, fat, lymph and blood vessels, and nerves.

Throat cancer

Cancer of the throat

A fast-growing cancer; therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Lung Cancer

Caner of the lung

People who smoke are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer

The primary known cause of melanoma, as well as all other types of skin cancer, is exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight.

Lymphoma

Cancer of lymphocytes

Lymphoma can be divided broadly into 2 types of lymphoma: Hodgkins Lymphoma or Hodgkins Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL).

Head and neck cancers

Cancer of the head and neck

These cancers, that could include oesophageal cancer, usually begin in the cells that line the moist surfaces (mucosal membranes) inside the...

Ovarian cancer

Cancer of the ovary

Recent evidence suggests that many ovarian cancers may actually start in the cells in the far end of the fallopian...

Prostate cancer

Cancer of the prostate gland

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 18.

Stomach cancer

Also known as gastric cancer

Most cancers of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. These cancers develop from the gland cells in the innermost lining of the stomach.

Thyroid cancer

Cancer of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland makes hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Uterine cancer

Cancer of the uterus or womb

Most uterine cancer begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.

 
 
 

Laryngeal Cancer

Throat cancer is a general term that refers to cancerous tumours that develop in one's throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils.

The throat is a muscular tube that starts behind the nose and ends in the neck. Throat cancer often starts in the flat cells that line the inside of the throat. It is a fast-growing cancer, therefore early treatment is key to having a good quality of life.

Types

Throat cancers often involve the same type of cells and therefore specific terms are used to differentiate the part of the throat where the cancer originated. Types include:

  • Nasopharyngeal cancer: the part of your throat just behind your nose
  • Oropharyngeal cancer: the part of your throat right being your mouth that includes your tonsils
  • Hypopharyngeal cancer (laryngopharyngeal cancer): the lower part of your throat, just above your oesophagus and windpipe
  • Glottic cancer: the vocal cords
  • Supraglottic cancer: begins in the upper portion of the larynx and includes cancer that effects the epiglottis, which is a piece of cartilage that blocks food from going into your windpipe
  • Subglottic cancer: begins in the lower portion of your voice box, below your vocal cords
Throat cancer often starts in the flat cells that line the inside of the throat.
 

Symptoms

Symptoms of throat cancer include:

  • A cough
  • Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not speaking clearly
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Ear pain or ringing
  • A lump or sore that doesn't heal
  • A sore throat
  • Weight loss
  • Neck lump
  • Coughing up blood
  • Bleeding in the mouth or nose
 

Symptoms of throat cancer include:

  • A cough
  • Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness or not speaking clearly
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Ear pain or ringing
  • A lump or sore that doesn't heal
  • A sore throat
  • Weight loss
  • Neck lump
  • Coughing up blood
  • Bleeding in the mouth or nose

Causes

Throat cancer occurs when the cells in the throat develop genetic mutations. These then cause the cells to grow rapidly and continue to live after the healthy cells die. The cells accumulate and form a tumor in the throat.

it is not clear as to what causes the mutation that causes throat cancer but there are factors that may increase one's risk.

Risk factors

  • Tobacco use, including smoking and chewing tobacco
  • Excessive alcohol use
  • A sexually transmitted virus called human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Prevention

Although there is no proven way of preventing throat cancer, there are factors that could reduce the risk of throat cancer, as mentioned above in 'Causes'.

Mutations are acquired during life rather than having been inherited.
 

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the following:

The stage of your cancer, where it is, your general health and your preferences

  • Stage 1 and 2: smaller cancers and remain in one area
  • Stage 3: spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the throat
  • Stage 4: spread to lymph nodes and different parts of the head, neck and chest, or even the lungs or liver

Treatment options include and may require more than one option:

  • Radiation
  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy drugs
 

When to see a doctor

Contact your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms continuing for extended periods and not healing. Note, most throat cancers aren't specific to cancer and your doctor will likely investigate other more common causes first.

Find care for throat cancer?

Find healthcare providers and facilities that specialise in treating throat cancer.

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