Laryngeal cancer

Laryngeal cancer affects the larynx, a part of your throat also known as the voicebox. It is located in your neck just above your windpipe.

Laryngeal cancer affects about 185 people in Ireland each year.* 

Detecting cancer early

Signs and symptoms

Learn about the signs and symptoms of laryngeal cancer. You are more likely to survive cancer if you find it at an earlier stage. 

Treatments

Treatments

There are a number of different treatments available for laryngeal cancer. Your medical team will explain the best treatment options for you. 

What is laryngeal cancer?

When cancer develops in your larynx, the cells change and grow in an abnormal way and form a tumour. The tumour can affect how your voice works.

What are the types of laryngeal cancer?

  • Squamous cell cancer. About 9 out of 10 laryngeal cancers are of this type. Squamous cells are flat skin-like cells that cover the surface of your epiglottis, vocal cords and other parts of your larynx.
  • Adenocarcinoma and sarcoma. These are rarer types.

What is my larynx and what does it do?

The larynx is also known as the voicebox. It is a small tube that sits at the entrance to your windpipe (trachea) in your neck. The larynx allows the air you breathe to reach your lungs through your windpipe. 

It also acts as a valve to prevent food and drink from entering your airway when you swallow. The larynx also contains two vocal cords. When air passes through them they vibrate. This allows you to make sound when you speak.

Larynx diagram

The larynx is made up of three parts:

  • The supraglottis: the area above the vocal cords
  • Glottis: the area in the centre where the vocal cords lie
  • Subglottis: the area just below the vocal cords that connects to the windpipe

Risks and prevention of laryngeal cancer

The cause of laryngeal cancer is unknown. But there are certain things called risk factors that can increase your chance of developing the disease. These include:

  • Smoking: If you smoke, you have a higher risk of laryngeal cancer. Smoking is the biggest risk factor. 
  • Alcohol: If you drink a lot of alcohol, especially spirits, your risk is higher. If you drink and smoke, your risk is even higher.
  • Age: Your risk of laryngeal cancer increases with age. It mainly affects people over 50.
  • Gender: Laryngeal cancer is more common in men than women.
  • Viruses: If you are exposed to certain viruses, your risk can increase. For example, HPV (human papilloma virus), but cases related to the HPV virus are rare. More research has be carried out in this area.
  • Exposure to chemicals and other substances: If you have been regularly exposed to high levels of wood dust, paint fumes or soot and coal dust over some years, you might have an increased risk.

Having a risk factor doesn’t mean you will get cancer. Sometimes people with no risk factors get the disease. If you’re worried, talk to your GP or talk to one of our cancer nurses. Call our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or visit a Daffodil Centre. 

Reducing your risk of laryngeal cancer

The most important things you can do to reduce your risk of laryngeal cancer are to:

  • Stop smoking
  • Keep within the low-risk limits for alcohol and avoid spirits

Medical content updated from our 'Understanding head and neck cancers' booklet (2022). Reviewed by Prof James Paul O'Neill, Professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Dr Eoin Cleere, Core Surgical Trainee, Shirley Baker, Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist and Anne Quinlan, Daffodil Centre Nurse.


Continue reading about laryngeal cancer

Read next Laryngeal cancer signs and symptoms

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*The Irish Cancer Society uses the most up-to-date cancer statistics from the National Cancer Registry Ireland, available on www.ncri.ie