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Pharynx Cancer

    

Throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx) or voice box (larynx).        
     
Your throat is a 5-inch-long muscular tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Your voice box sits just below your throat and is also susceptible to throat cancer. The voice box is made of cartilage and contains the vocal cords that vibrate to make sound when you talk. Throat cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage (epiglottis) that acts as a lid for your windpipe.          
        
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 24,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with throat cancer each year. About half of those throat cancers occur in the pharynx, with the rest occurring in the larynx.             
     
Symptoms     
    
Pharyngeal cancer may not have symptoms in the early stages. When present, symptoms may include the following:

  • Nasopharyngeal Cancer
  • A lump in the nose or neck
  • Sore throat
  • Trouble breathing or speaking
  • Nosebleeds
  • Trouble hearing
  • Pain or ringing in the ears
  • Headaches
             

Oropharyngeal Cancer symptoms may include: 

  • A sore throat that does not go away
  • A lump in the back of the mouth, throat or neck
  • Dull pain behind the breastbone
  • Cough
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Ear pain
  • Change in voice
  • Leukoplakia (white patches in the oropharynx)
  • Erythroplakia (reddish patches in the oropharynx)
            

Hypopharyngeal Cancer may include:

  • A sore throat that does not go away
  • Ear pain
  • A lump in the neck
  • Painful or difficult swallowing
  • A change in voice

Pharynx Cancer