Overview
This cancer affects the pharynx (throat tube) or larynx (voice box). It can impact speech and swallowing, making rehabilitation a key part of treatment.
Symptoms
- Voice changes
- Persistent hoarseness
- Constant cough
- Ear pain
- Swallowing difficulty
- Neck lump
Treatments
Function recovery:
Radiation
To preserve voice.
Speech Therapy
Post-treatment rehab.
Sources and medical information
Prepared by Tutti Cancer Warriors
Sources checked: 29 July 2026
This page provides general educational information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. “Throat cancer” is not one diagnosis; it may refer to cancers of the pharynx or larynx, which differ in causes and treatment. Seek medical advice for persistent hoarseness or sore throat, swallowing difficulty or pain, a neck lump, one-sided ear pain, coughing blood or unexplained weight loss. The figures combine four sites and overlap with the broader head-and-neck guide. The global figures are GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates published in July 2026 and cannot predict an individual outcome.
Official sources
Key Facts
513KCombined new cases across oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx and larynx worldwide in 2024
260KCombined deaths across those sites worldwide in 2024