Throat cancer
Throat cancer is a common way of referring to some head and neck cancers, usually squamous cell carcinomas. Its precise usage varies, as different researchers and practitioners define the area of the throat in different ways.
As with other squamous cell carcinomas, the tumor begins to develop in the tissue lining the hollow organs of the body. These cancer cells tend to rapidly multiply, killing the healthy cells, and causing death unless they are stopped or slowed down in time.

Types of throat cancer

Throat cancers are classified according to their histology or cell structure, and are commonly referred to by their location in the oral cavity and neck. This is because where the cancer appears in the throat affects the prognosis - some throat cancers are more aggressive than others depending upon their location. The stage at which the cancer is diagnosed is also a critical factor in the prognosis of throat cancer.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cells are the epithelium (tissue layer) that is the surface cells of much of the body. Skin and mucous membranes are squamous cells. This is the most common form of larynx cancer, accounting for over 90% of throat cancer.[reference please] Squamous Cell Carcinoma is most likely to appear in males over 40 years of age with a history of heavy alcohol use coupled with smoking.

Epidimoid Cancer

(See Squamous Cell Carcinoma)

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a cancer of the columnar epithelium typical of the lower esophagus. It is typical of Barrett's Esophagus but may be at another location. Adenocarcinoma is thought of as a product of Barrett's Esophagus.
Examples of locational nomenclature are:

Hypo-Pharangeal cancer

Often a dark white spot appears on the throat where it is visible.

Esophogeal cancer

Some would describe esophageal cancer as a throat cancer.[citation needed]

Cancer of the Larynx

Cancerous tumors can occur anywhere in the larynx, like on the vocal cords (most common) or above them or below the glottis which is the opening at the top of the larynx. Less prevalent are tumors above (supraglottic) or below the glottis (subglottic) but these are also the throat cancers with the worst prognosis because they tend to spread or metastasize more rapidly than other types of throat cancer.