Males are more likely to develop oropharyngeal or laryngeal cancers than females. While the overall rate is higher among white people, it is significantly higher for Black males compared with all females and with males from other races, according to statistics published by the NCI. A study notes that the difference in survival rates for laryngeal cancer between Black and white American males increased rather than decreasing between and The study authors suggest that socioeconomic factors, a later stage at diagnosis, and less access to appropriate treatment could be the reasons.
According to the NCI, alcohol use and smoking combine to form the biggest risk factor for developing these cancers. This makes limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding smoking two main ways of helping prevent head and neck cancers. At your appointment, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history.
To check for throat cancer, your doctor will perform a direct or an indirect laryngoscopy or will refer you to a specialist for the procedure. A laryngoscopy gives your doctor a closer view of the larynx. They may use special mirrors to see these areas or insert an endoscope into your throat for a clearer view. A panendoscopy allows the doctor to see the larynx, esophagus, mouth, nasal cavity, and possibly the lungs at one time.
If cancer is present in one location, it can also occur in other areas prone to the same risk factors, such as smoking. If these tests show changes that could indicate cancer, your doctor may order a tissue sample to be taken called a biopsy for testing.
They will also order imaging tests, such as an X-ray , CT scan , MRI scan, or ultrasound to help get a correct diagnosis. Blood tests cannot show if cancer is present in the mouth or throat, but they can help assess your overall health.
If your doctor needs more detail about your gullet, you may need to have an X-ray after drinking a chalky liquid called a barium swallow. The barium swallow helps show any problems with the gullet on an X-ray. A bone scan can show if cancer has spread to the bones. If your doctor finds cancerous cells in your throat, they will order additional tests to identify the stage, or the extent, of your cancer.
The most basic way of staging cancers in the throat involves a number system, ranging from 0 to To work out the stage, your doctor will consider the tumor size T , lymph node involvement N , and if any cells have spread to other parts of the body, known as metastasis M. Together, these are known as the TNM system. The diagnosis will depend on how these factors combine. Cancer staging is a complex process.
If you receive a diagnosis, your doctor will consider the stage, grade, and individual factors to prepare an individual treatment plan. Learn more about what cancer stages mean. If the tumor in your throat is small, your doctor may surgically remove the tumor. Your doctor may recommend one of the following surgical procedures:.
Following the removal of the tumor, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. It targets any cancerous cells the tumor has left behind.
Types of radiation therapy include:. In the case of large tumors and tumors that have spread to the lymph nodes and other organs or tissue, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy as well as radiation.
Chemotherapy is a drug that kills and slows the growth of malignant cells. Targeted therapies are drugs that stop the spread and growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific molecules responsible for tumor growth.
One type of targeted therapy used to treat throat cancer is cetuximab Erbitux. Experts are researching other types of targeted therapy.
Your doctor may recommend this therapy along with standard chemotherapy and radiation, possibly as part of a clinical trial. Our patients have access to the latest treatment options , including clinical trials that provide early access to promising new therapies that are not yet available in other settings. If you have concerns about a lump you feel in your throat, you can consult with a head and neck cancer specialist at Moffitt Cancer Center with or without a referral. For more information, call or complete a new patient registration form online.
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Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest about cancer news, research, and care. Throat cancer occurs when cells in your throat develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause cells to grow uncontrollably and continue living after healthy cells would normally die.
The accumulating cells can form a tumor in your throat. It's not clear what causes the mutation that causes throat cancer. But doctors have identified factors that may increase your risk. Human papillomavirus HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that increases the risk of certain types of throat cancer.
HPV has been linked to cancer that affects the soft palate, tonsils, back of the tongue, and the side and back wall of the throat. There's no proven way to prevent throat cancer from occurring.
But in order to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can:. Throat cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Parts of the throat pharynx Open pop-up dialog box Close. Parts of the throat pharynx The throat pharynx is a muscular tube that runs from the back of your nose down into your neck.
Throat anatomy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Throat anatomy The throat includes the esophagus, windpipe trachea , voice box larynx , tonsils and epiglottis. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name.
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