Throat cancers grow in the organs that help you swallow, speak, and breathe. About half of these cancers happen in the throat itself, the tube that starts behind your nose and ends in your neck. It’s also called the "pharynx dental instruments." The rest start in the voice box, or "larynx." These diseases tend to grow quickly. That's why getting treated early on gives you the best chance to beat them and keep a good quality of life. Learn as much as you can so you’ll know what to expect. Symptoms You may have: Voice changes like cracking or hoarseness Trouble swallowing or breathing Sore throat, cough, or earache that won’t go away Headache Neck lump Unexplained weight loss See your doctor right away if any symptoms last for more than a few weeks. What Puts You At Risk? Using tobacco for a long time. Smoking it and chewing it are the biggest risk factors for all head and neck cancers, including throat cancer. Drinking heavily and regularly water picker. That means more than two drinks of alcohol a day if you're a man or more than one a day if you're a woman. You drive up your risk even more if you drink and you smoke. HPV. Human papillomavirus is linked to cancer behind the mouth. It's spread through intimate contact, including oral sex. Recently there's been a rise in this type of throat cancer, especially in young men. You can help protect your kids from it in the future by having your children get the HPV vaccines. Kids should start the series of shots between 11 and 12 years old. Other risk factors include: Gender. Men are five times more likely to get it than women. Age. Most people get diagnosed after 65. Race. African-American men are at the biggest risk. Chemical exposure. This includes being around asbestos, nickel, and sulfuric acid fumes dental scaling machine. Different Types Most types grow in the flat, thin cells that line the throat and voice box.