What is pharyngeal cancer?

Pharyngeal cancer starts when the cells of the pharynx grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. The abnormal cells can form a lump, called a tumour. Not all tumours are cancerous. A cancerous tumour can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The tumour can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Cancerous tumours are also called malignant tumours.

The pharynx, which is commonly called the throat, is part of the digestive and respiratory systems. It’s divided into 3 parts. The nasopharynx is the top part. The oropharynx is the middle part, located at the back of the mouth. The hypopharynx is the bottom part.

Cells in the pharynx sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally, which can lead to non-cancerous tumours such as papillomas or hemangiomas.

But in some cases, changes to pharyngeal cells can cause pharyngeal cancer. Most often, pharyngeal cancer starts in the squamous cells that line the inside of the pharynx. This type of cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. It’s the most common type of cancer found in the pharynx.

You may wonder whether pharyngeal cancer just means “throat cancer.” “Throat cancer” isn’t really a medical term. The pharynx is often called the throat in everyday conversation, but there are different structures in the area of the throat where different types of cancer – not just pharyngeal – can develop.

This section talks about pharyngeal cancer – nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Other types of cancer that you sometimes hear described as “throat cancer” are laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer or thyroid cancer. It’s important for you to ask your healthcare team what kind of cancer you have, so you can make sure you get the information that’s right for you.