Epidemiology
Around 2,300 people are diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in the UK each year.
(1)
- common symptoms of laryngeal cancer:
- hoarseness 80-90%
- pain on swallowing 30-40%
- dysphagia 30%
- cancer of the larynx is the second most common form of head and neck cancer, and it is the 14th most common cancer in males, but is much rarer among women
- the two major risk factors for upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell cancer in the UK are tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Concurrent tobacco smoking and consumption of alcohol have a multiplicative effect on the risk of laryngeal cancer. (4)
Reference:
- Cancer Research UK. Laryngeal Cancer Statistics. (Online 2026).
- NICE. Improving outcomes in head and neck cancers. Cancer service guideline CSG6. Published November 2004, last reviewed June 2015
- NICE. Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 or over. NICE guideline NG36. Published February 2016, last updated June 2018
- Pelucchi C, Gallus S, Garavello W, et al. Cancer risk associated with alcohol and tobacco use: focus on upper aero-digestive tract and liver. Alcohol Res Health. 2006;29(3):193-8.
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