Throat Cancer

The cancer care specialists at St. Elizabeth Healthcare provide personalized treatment for throat cancer. Our care starts with an accurate diagnosis informing your individualized treatment plan. A team of experts offers guidance throughout your care and supports your overall well being.

Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. It can develop in your throat, vocal cords, voice box, oropharynx or tonsils. Doctors name throat cancer according to the area of your throat it starts in. The most common types are laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancers.

Laryngeal cancer — Starts in your voice box.
Oropharyngeal cancer — Starts in the part of your throat directly behind your mouth.
Hypopharyngeal cancer— Starts in the lower part of your throat above your windpipe and esophagus.
Nasopharyngeal cancer— Begins in your throat just behind your nose.
Glottic cancer— Begins in your vocal cords.
Subglottic cancer— Starts below your vocal cords in the lower area of your voice box.
Supraglottic cancer — Starts in the upper portion of your larynx and includes your epiglottis.

Make an appointment

For more information, please contact your oncologist or call (859) 301-4000.

Causes and Risk Factors of Throat Cancer

Knowing the risk factors for throat cancer can help you choose healthy behaviors to reduce your risk and talk to your provider if you have a concern. Your risk of throat cancer may increase with:

Tobacco use, including smoking, vaping and chewing tobacco.
Heavy alcohol use.
Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

In certain cases, it is not always clear what causes throat cancer. Research is ongoing to determine if genetic abnormalities play a role.

Symptoms of Throat Cancer

Throat cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms in its earliest stages. As the disease progresses, common symptoms may include:

Difficulty swallowing.
Ear pain.
Hoarseness and voice changes.
Lumps in your throat, mouth or neck.
Sore throat that lasts.
Swollen lymph nodes.
Unexplained weight loss.

Many other, less severe conditions can cause these symptoms. If you notice any of these symptoms, tell your primary care provider.

Diagnosing Throat Cancer

The best treatment plan starts with an accurate diagnosis. We use a variety of tests to identify your cancer and understand your health. We begin with a physical exam and a comprehensive review of your health history.

ENT exam – Examination of the ear, nose and throat.
Imaging tests — Show images of the inside of your body from CT and/or PET scans. MRI is used in some special circumstances.
Tissue biopsy — Removes and examines tissue cells.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing — Testing is done on tissue sample to determine if the HPV virus is the cause of the cancer.

Treating Throat Cancer

You will receive a personalized treatment plan designed for your health and well being. We’ll use the latest medical techniques for treating throat cancer.

Depending on the stage of your cancer and whether it has spread, your treatment may include:

Surgery — Removes cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Radiation therapy — High-energy beams shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy — Therapy that uses drugs injected through an IV, taken by mouth or applied on the skin to attack and kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy — Medication that stimulates your immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
Clinical trials — Innovative medication and genetic therapies used to treat other cancers.

Your Cancer Care Team

You’re not alone during your cancer care journey. In fact, you have an entire team of dedicated specialists at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Together, they create your treatment plan and support your well being.

Your cancer care team includes:

Medical oncologists (cancer care physicians) specializing in immunotherapy and precision medicine.
Surgical oncologists and thoracic surgeons.
Radiation oncologists.