Throat Cancer

Why choose us for throat cancer care?

If you are concerned that a lump in your throat may be cancer, turn to the experts at Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Our experienced team detects subtle signs of throat cancer that can be easy to miss. You receive timely, personalized care. For people with human papillomavirus (HPV), care often includes few therapies and few side effects.

Throat cancer is one of the many forms of head and neck cancer we treat. Explore our head and neck cancer program.

What you need to know about throat cancer?

• HPV is a frequent cause of throat cancers. This virus spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. You can lower your risk by getting the HPV vaccine.
• People with HPV often experience less severe throat cancer and require fewer treatments. If you need additional therapies, we first consider using lighter doses of chemotherapy drugs or radiation.
• Regularly using tobacco and drinking alcohol also raises your throat cancer risk. It’s never too late to stop using these substances. Get more information about tobacco use and cancer.
• You’ll have help keeping track of the small details of your care. Our nurse navigator coordinates your tests and treatments.

How to talk to your doctor about throat cancer

A throat cancer diagnosis may come as a surprise. We are here for you with the encouragement and information you need.

You might want to ask your doctor about:

• Additional testing to help determine which treatments are right for your needs
• Diagnosis, including the cancer’s location and how advanced it is
• Treatments and how soon you may receive them
• Supportive therapies, which may include emotional support, to help you cope with a cancer diagnosis

We explain the tests and treatments you may need in ways you can understand, so you know what to expect. Please feel free to bring family members or trusted friends to appointments to help make care decisions.

Types

This cancer begins in the surface tissue of the throat. As it progresses, cancerous growths may extend to deeper tissue layers or nearby organs.

Throat cancer starts in the:

• Upper part of the throat (oropharynx cancer)
• Lower part of the throat (hypopharynx cancer)
• Larynx or voice box (laryngeal cancer)

Symptoms

The symptoms you experience depend on where in the throat the cancer is growing and often include:

• Changes in your voice, such as consistent hoarseness
• Constant need to clear your throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Wheezing or cough that won’t quit

Diagnosis

Tests we use to diagnose throat cancer include:

• HPV test to uncover whether you carry the virus
• Physical exam to assess symptoms and check for abnormal growths in your throat or nearby areas, including your nose, tongue or neck
• Imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scan, to help us learn more about the size and shape of the cancer
• Endoscopy, a procedure that enables our specialists to examine the surface tissue of your throat using a thin tube with a camera and instruments at the tip
• Biopsy to take a sample of suspicious throat tissue during an endoscopy

A pathologist examines the tissue sample under a microscope. Our pathologists have years of head and neck cancer experience, which leads to accurate results.

Pathologists, along with other head and neck cancer experts, discuss your diagnosis and test results in meetings called tumor boards. We then develop ways to tailor therapies to your unique needs.

Treatment

If you have HPV, surgery to remove cancer cells may be the only treatment you need. Our head and neck surgeons typically use robotic technologies to access cancer through your mouth instead of an incision in your neck. This approach is gentler on your body and often preserves the ability to swallow. Learn more about trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS).

People who do not have HPV, or HPV with advanced throat cancer may need additional therapies, including

• Chemotherapy: You receive chemotherapy drugs that destroy cancer cells and seek to prevent new ones from forming.
• Radiation therapy: This option uses powerful energy, such as X-ray beams and other substances, to disrupt cancer cell growth. A of team of experts deliver focused treatments, protecting as much healthy tissue as possible.
• Reconstructive surgery: If radiation therapy or surgery affects your throat’s functioning, this specialized form of surgery may repair it. Read more about head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Services to help you stay comfortable during treatment include:

• Speech therapy: Experienced therapists help you cope with difficulty speaking and swallowing. Read more about speech therapy during cancer treatment.
• Nutrition therapy: Our dietitians may recommend soft foods or other methods of getting the nutrients you need if eating becomes challenging.

Research and Clinical Trials

Our cancer research program gives eligible patients access to new care methods through national clinical trials. Our research interests include a broad range of cancer services, including prevention, treatment and survivorship

Read more about cancer research and clinical trials.