Throat cancer is a colloquial term used by some people to refer to cancer that originates in the throat. However, medical professionals generally do not use this term because there are different types of cancer that can affect various areas of the throat.
Throat cancer refers to cancers that begin in either the pharynx or the larynx (voice box). The pharynx is a tube that extends from behind the nose to the neck, which allows air, food, and liquid to pass through. It also plays a role in speech formation. The pharynx is divided into three main sections: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, while the larynx is located in front of the hypopharynx.
The nasopharynx is the upper part of the pharynx that is situated behind the nose. Cancer that develops in this area is called nasopharyngeal cancer. The oropharynx is the middle section of the pharynx, located behind the mouth. It comprises the soft part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate), the base or back of the tongue (the part you cannot see), the tonsils, and the side walls of the throat. Cancer that arises in this area is called oropharyngeal cancer, with the tonsils and base of the tongue being the most common sites of cancer development. The hypopharynx is the lower part of the pharynx that is located behind the voice box, and cancer that develops here is referred to as hypopharyngeal cancer.
The larynx, on the other hand, is the voice box, which is a short passageway in front of the hypopharynx. It contains the vocal cords that play an important role in speech production.
It’s worth noting that the term “throat” can be used by individuals to describe different parts of the neck. Cancer that originates in the thyroid gland, located in the front of the neck, is called thyroid cancer, while cancer that starts in the gullet or food pipe is called oesophageal cancer. Similarly, cancer that begins in the windpipe or trachea is called tracheal cancer, and these types of cancer are treated differently than throat cancer.