Laryngeal cancer starts in the lower part of the throat, also known as the larynx. The larynx has vocal cords and is responsible for helping us speak. It is otherwise known as the voice box. It also helps keep things out of the trachea like fluid and food and helps air get in and out of the lungs.

Depending on where in the larynx the cancer is present, treatment options may vary. The larynx has three main parts: the supraglottis, the glottis, and the subglottis. The supraglottis is the area above the vocal cords; the glottis in the area that contains the vocal cords; and the subglottis is the area below the vocal cords.

Key statistics for laryngeal cancer:

·         It is estimated that in the United States in 2015 there will be about 13,560 new cases of laryngeal cancer diagnosed and about 3,640 deaths from laryngeal cancer.

·         About 60 percent of laryngeal cancers start in the glottis; about 35 percent develop in the supraglottis; the rest develop in either the subglottis or overlap more than one area (this can make it difficult to determine where the cancer started)

·         The rate of laryngeal cancer cases is going down by about 2 to 3 percent a year. This is most likely due to the fact that less people are smoking. 

Risk factors for laryngeal cancer:

·         Using tobacco and alcohol. Smoking is a major risk factor for laryngeal cancer. The risk for laryngeal cancer is much higher for smokers than non-smokers. Having more than one drink a day also increases your risk for laryngeal cancer.

·         Gender – Laryngeal cancer is more common in men than women. This is likely due to the fact that the main risk factors (smoking and alcohol use) are more common among men than women.

·         Age – Laryngeal cancer takes quite some time to develop. For this reason, it is not common for younger people to be diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. More than half of people who are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer are 65 years old or older.

·         Race – Laryngeal cancer is more common among African-Americans than among Caucasians, Asians, and Hispanics.

·         Certain genetic conditions – Certain genetic conditions like Fanconi anemia or Dyskeratosis congenita may increase the risk for laryngeal cancer.

·         Poor diet – Consuming a diet low in healthy foods may increase the risk of developing laryngeal cancer. It is unclear as to why this is.

·         Workplace exposures – Being exposed to certain workplace chemicals for long periods of time can increase the risk of laryngeal cancer. Potentially harmful workplaces exposures include paint fumes, asbestos, wood dust, and certain chemicals used in metalworking, petroleum, plastics, and textile industries.

·         Human papilloma virus (HPV) – HPV is a sexually transmitted infection. Certain types of HPV can cause cancer, although in the case of laryngeal cancer, it is very rare.

The most common types of treatment for laryngeal cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.