Throat Cancer Treatments

The type of treatment your doctor will recommend depends on the type and stage of throat cancer that is present. Some of the most common treatment options include:

1. Radiation Therapy

This treatment option uses radiation from sources such as protons or X-rays to kill the cancer cells. For lower-stage cancers, radiation therapy may be the only treatment that is needed, but for more advanced or aggressive cancers it can be combined with surgery and chemotherapy for better results.

2. Chemotherapy

Certain types of chemotherapy drugs make cancer cells more susceptible to radiation, which is why this treatment is often used in conjunction with radiation therapy in more advanced cancers. However, when doing so, the side effects of both treatments are compounded, which can impact your quality of life.

That’s why it is important to talk to your doctor about risks, benefits and side effects to ensure you receive the best treatment for your goals and prognosis.

3. Surgery

Depending on where your cancer is located, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the cancerous tissues. These surgeries can range from a milder endoscopy that scrapes or burns off the cancerous tissues for earlier stages of throat cancer all the way to the removal of the vocal cords or part of the throat. Surgery may be combined with radiation depending on the severity and plan developed by the oncologist.

4. Immunotherapy

This treatment is often reserved for aggressive throat cancers that are not responding to other treatments. Immunotherapy treatment works by preventing cancer cells from creating proteins that allow them to go undetected by the immune system so they can be targeted and killed.

What is Throat Cancer?

Throat cancer is also referred to as oropharynx cancer because according to the American Cancer Society it doesn’t just happen in what you would consider the throat. This type of cancer can also occur on the soft palate, the tonsils and the base of the tongue. Throat cancer can also occur in vocal cords and the side and back of the throat. Most types of cancers developed in the throat are squamous cell carcinomas and develop in the flat, squamous cells of the mouth and throat.

In its earliest stages, squamous cell cancers start in the epithelial, the top layer of cells lining the throat, but as it progresses it can invade past this first layer of cells and become more aggressive. There is a correlation between throat cancer and some times of HPV (human papillomavirus), though this type of throat cancer typically has a better prognosis than HPV-negative forms.

Another type of cancer that may occur in the throat are lymphomas. Since the base of the tongue and your tonsils contain lymphoid tissue, they may develop this type of cancer. However, treatment is often more focused on lymphatic cancers than throat cancer, so if this is your diagnosis, the treatments below are not likely to be recommended for you.

Signs and Symptoms of Throat Cancer

One or two of these symptoms on their own aren’t necessarily an indication that you have throat cancer, but if they are lingering for more than a few weeks or you have multiple signs or symptoms on this list, then it is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor to get checked out. The earlier throat cancer is caught, the better chance your doctors have of helping cure it. Watch for the following signs and symptoms:

A sore throat.
A persistent cough.
Unexplained weight loss.
Hoarseness or other changes to your voice.
Having difficulty swallowing.
A lump in your throat that won’t go away.
Pain in your ears.

Once you have made an appointment with your doctor, they will likely rule out other health concerns since many of these symptoms can have other causes.

Breaking Down Throat Cancer

Cancer rates continue to rise in the US. The rates have increased from 1.9 million new cases in 2023 to over 2 million cases in 2024 leading to almost 612,000 deaths, an increase from 2023’s 609,000. Cancer is the second highest cause of death in the nation and this disease occurs when certain cells in the body begin to grow out of control, interfering with their health and function. Throat cancer, or oropharynx cancer, occurs when malignant cells grow in the throat and base of your tongue.

By understanding the risk factors for throat cancer and knowing what signs and symptoms to watch for, you can be proactive in your health by getting changes checked out by your doctor early. Quitting smoking, limiting or eliminating alcohol, and eating lots of fruits and veggies are three preventative steps you can take to decrease your risks of throat cancer today.

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Top Advances in Throat Cancer Care