cancer of the throat

the bottom line

Smoking causes cancers in various parts of the throat, including the pharynx (the tube that goes from the nose down into the neck) and the larynx (the voice box, which contains the vocal cords).

just the facts

• About 30,000 people in the U.S. die from these types of cancers every year, and even teenagers and young adults can get these cancers and die from them.

definition

People who have throat cancer may need to have an operation in which the vocal cords are removed. After this type of operation, a person can never talk normally again. Many people who have this operation do learn to talk again using special techniques or equipment, but their new voices may sound strange, and they may be difficult to understand. People who have surgery for throat cancer may also have to learn to swallow again and may never be able to chew and swallow food normally. About 30,000 people in the U.S. die from these types of cancers every year, and even teenagers and young adults can get these cancers and die from them.