Throat Cancer

Throat Cancer - A type of head and neck cancer that begins in tissues of the pharynx. The pharynx is the hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus. Also known as pharyngeal cancer, throat cancer can develop in the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose), the oropharynx (the middle part of the throat behind the mouth) and the hypopharynx (the bottom part of the throat). Cancer can also develop in the voice box (laryngeal cancer) and in the mouth (oral cancer). Most throat cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, and begin in the thin, flat cells that line the surface of the throat. Throat cancer is most notably linked to excessive tobacco and alcohol use.

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