Throat Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Throat Cancer?
An ENT specialist (a doctor for the ear, nose, and throat) often leads care for throat cancer. A cancer doctor helps plan treatment, and a speech therapist helps with talking and swallowing. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is throat cancer?
Throat cancer is a kind of head and neck cancer. It can start in the throat or in the voice box. The throat has three parts. The upper part is behind the nose. The middle part includes the tonsils and the base of the tongue. The lower part is the last section. The voice box, called the larynx, sits just below the throat and holds the vocal cords.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include:
- A lump in the neck.
- A sore in the throat that does not heal and may hurt.
- A sore throat that does not go away.
- Trouble swallowing.
- A change or hoarseness in the voice.
Cancer in the throat itself can also cause pain when swallowing. It can cause pain in the neck or throat that does not go away, pain or ringing in the ears, or trouble hearing. Cancer in the voice box can cause trouble breathing or speaking, pain when swallowing, or ear pain. Other, less serious conditions can cause these symptoms too.
Causes and who gets it
Tobacco use and alcohol use are the two most important risk factors, especially for cancers of the voice box and the lower throat. People who use both are at greater risk than people who use only one. Some types of HPV (human papillomavirus) can cause cancer. Infection with HPV, especially type 16, raises the risk of cancers of the tonsils and the base of the tongue. About three-quarters of cancers in the middle part of the throat are caused by long-lasting HPV infection. You are also more likely to get head and neck cancer if you are male, are over age 50, or have had head or neck cancer before. Asbestos and some other job exposures have been linked to voice box cancer. How much they add to the risk is still debated.
How doctors diagnose it
The exams and tests depend on the type of cancer. Other tests may include an endoscopy (a test that looks inside the body), imaging tests, and blood or urine tests. A biopsy collects cells from the area, and the cells are viewed under a microscope to see if they are abnormal.
Treatment
Treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy (treatment with strong energy beams), chemotherapy (cancer-fighting drugs), targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination. The plan depends on the type of cancer, its stage (how advanced it is), and your overall health. Some people need more than one treatment. People with HPV-positive tumors in the middle of the throat have a much better outlook and a higher chance of cure than people with HPV-negative tumors.
Surgery can affect how well you chew, swallow, or talk. Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, dietary counseling, and speech therapy, may help. After surgery to remove the voice box, a person breathes through an opening in the windpipe called a stoma. Follow-up visits check that the cancer has not come back and that no new cancer has started. Continuing to smoke may make treatment work less well and raise the chance of a new cancer.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor or dentist about a lump in the neck, a sore that will not heal, a sore throat that will not go away, trouble swallowing, or a change in your voice. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have severe trouble breathing, you cough up blood, you have bleeding that will not stop, or you suddenly cannot speak.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can do a first evaluation of a lump, sore throat, or voice change, and refer you to an ENT specialist when needed.
Common questions
What causes throat cancer?
Tobacco use and alcohol use are the two most important risk factors, especially for cancers of the voice box and the lower throat. HPV infection is a main risk factor for cancers of the tonsils and the base of the tongue.
What are the symptoms of throat cancer?
Symptoms can include a lump in the neck, a sore in the throat that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, trouble swallowing, and a change in the voice. Other, less serious conditions can cause these too.
How is throat cancer treated?
Throat cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a mix of these. The right plan depends on the type of cancer, its stage, and your overall health.
Can throat cancer be prevented?
You can lower your risk of throat cancer. Helpful steps are not smoking, limiting alcohol or not drinking at all, getting regular dental exams, and talking to your provider about HPV vaccination. In June 2020, the FDA granted accelerated approval to the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 to help prevent oropharyngeal (middle throat) and other head and neck cancers caused by certain HPV types, for people aged 9 through 45.
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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
