Updated August 06, 2014.

No one knows the exact causes of cancer of the larynx. Doctors cannot explain why one person gets this disease and another does not. We do know that cancer is not contagious. You cannot “catch” cancer from another person.

People with certain risk factors are more likely to get cancer of the larynx. A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing this disease.

Studies have found the following risk factors:

• Age. Cancer of the larynx occurs most often in people over the age of 55.
   
  
• Gender. Men are four times more likely than women to get cancer of the larynx.
   
  
• Race. African Americans are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with cancer of the larynx.
   
  
• Smoking. Smokers are far more likely than nonsmokers to get cancer of the larynx. The risk is even higher for smokers who drink alcohol heavily.
   
  
• Alcohol. People who drink alcohol are more likely to develop laryngeal cancer than people who don’t drink. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol that is consumed. The risk also increases if the person drinks alcohol and also smokes tobacco.
   
  
• A personal history of head and neck cancer. Almost one in four people who have had head and neck cancer will develop a second primary head and neck cancer.
   
  
• Occupation. Workers exposed to sulfuric acid mist or nickel have an increased risk of laryngeal cancer. Also, working with asbestos can increase the risk of this disease. Asbestos workers should follow work and safety rules to avoid inhaling asbestos fibers.
   
  

• Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus.

Most people who have these risk factors do not get cancer of the larynx. If you are concerned, however, about your chance of getting cancer of the larynx, you should discuss this concern with your doctor.
——————

Additional Resources

• Laryngeal Cancer Defined
• Symptoms of Laryngeal Cancer
• Diagnosing Laryngeal Cancer
• Treating Laryngeal Cancer

——————

Sources

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 02-1568, Sept. 20, 2006
• Laryngeal cancer. Philadelphia (PA): Intracorp; 2005. Various p., Sept. 20, 2006
• MedlinePlus, William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Sept. 20, 2006