Types of Head and Neck Cancer

Throat Cancer

Head&Neck Cancer Types

Cancer Description

The throat (pharynx) includes 3 different parts that can be affected by cancer:

Nasopharynx (Upper throat) – the part of the throat that connects the back of the nose to the back of the mouth.
- It’s one of the rarest types of head and neck cancer in the UK.
- Risk factors include:
  - Southern Chinese or if you have an affected relative.
  - Previous infection with the Epstein Barr virus, a common virus that causes glandular fever.
  - People aged 40 years and over, and
  - Men are about three times more likely than women to get nasopharyngeal cancer.

Diagram showing parts on Pharynx in relation to other areas of the throat and nose.

Oropharynx (Middle throat) – the middle part of the throat behind the mouth. This area includes the base of tongue (the part you cannot see), the soft part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate), the tonsils and the side walls of the throat to the tip of the voice box.
- This is becoming the most common site of Head and Neck cancers due to the strong link with the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Hypopharynx (Lower throat) – the part of the throat connecting the oropharynx to the food pipe and the wind pipe. It is the lower part of the throat that surrounds the larynx and is also called the gullet.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of cancer in the oropharynx or hypopharynx include a lump in the neck (often painless), a persistent sore throat and/or earache and difficulty swallowing.

Useful Links

Suggested additional sites that may offer helpful information:

HPV Oral Cancer Facts

Maggie’s Centres

HPV Throat Cancer Guide

Podcasts

Life After Throat Cancer

@TheThroatBloke discusses his cancer journey, from diagnosis with throat cancer to living after treatment.

Patient Stories

Marc Head – A 14-Year Journey of Resilience, Peg Feeding, and Inspirational Optimism

Julian Gilbert – the support from Oracle has been fantastic

Nigel Lloyd-Jones – being told “you have cancer” is life changing

Have you got a symptom, are you being diagnosed, going through treatment, or a friend/carer of someone who is?

Please join our private Facebook Group to get support and advice from fellow patients and carers

Call 020 3875 8991

Email info@oraclehnc.org.uk

Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1142037), and in Scotland (SC052790).

Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (7125497). Registered address: 80 Coombe Road, New Malden KT3 4QS.