Neck Cancers Are Relatively Rare (2024)

Neck cancer is a group of relatively rare cancers in the United States. The most common cancers of the neck are those that develop in the mouth, the throat, and the voice box.

These cancers develop when abnormal cells in the tissues grow out of control and then spread from one tissue to another. People with neck cancer may find a lump, nodule, or swelling in their neck; upon imaging, the healthcare provider will find a tumor.

Neck cancers are generally more common in men than women, and some are more common in Black Americans than other racial or ethnic populations. These cancers can be caused by alcohol and tobacco and by certain viral infections.

This article will highlight important facts and statistics you should know about neck cancer.

Neck Cancers Are Relatively Rare (1)

Neck Cancer Overview

Neck cancer occurs when cancer cells form a clump called a tumor in the tissues of the neck. Cancer cells from the tumor can spread to other tissues in the neck and throughout the body. When they grow out of control, they can stop other organs from functioning correctly.

Cancer of the neck often develops in the cells of the mucous membranes in the throat and mouth. These areas of the body are lined with squamous cells and are called squamous cell carcinomas.

Other cancers of the muscles (sarcomas) or nerves (schwannomas) can develop in the neck, but these are much rarer than squamous cell carcinomas. Though rare, salivary gland cancers can also develop in the neck, as minor salivary glands (much smaller than the primary glands) are found in the mouth, larynx (voice box), and hypopharynx (the lower part of your throat behind the larynx).

Cancers that develop in the neck structures are identified by the tissues in which they grow. This overview includes the following cancers:

  • Laryngeal cancers develop in the larynx.
  • Hypopharyngeal cancers develop in the lower throat, behind the larynx, and usually are lumped in with laryngeal cancers since cancers here are hard to distinguish.
  • Oropharyngeal cancers develop in the middle throat near the mouth.
  • Oral cancers develop in the mouth and are considered oropharyngeal cancers.
  • Nasopharyngeal cancers develop at the top of the throat behind the nose.

Possible Causes of a Lump on the Back of the Neck

How Common Is Neck Cancer?

Cancers that develop in the neck or throat are not very common. The two most frequently diagnosed are those of the mouth or oropharynx and those of the voice box.

Laryngeal Cancers

Cancer that develops in the larynx (also known as the voice box) is the 22nd most common cancer In the United States. Only about 0.3% of people will develop laryngeal cancer during their life.

There was estimated to be 12,470 new cases of laryngeal cancer in the United States in 2022, accounting for about 0.7% of new cancer cases that year. Around 3,830 deaths from laryngeal cancer also were predicted for the United States in 2022, which accounts for about 0.6% of cancer deaths.

These rates have been decreasing as smoking rates have dropped. New cases had fallen on average 3.9% per year between 2010 and 2019, and death rates had fallen by about 2.2% per year.

About 90,176 people in the United States are currently living with laryngeal cancer.

Cancer of the Hypopharynx

Cancer that develops specifically in the lower throat (the hypopharynx) is very rare. In the United States, there are only about 2,000–4,000 cases of cancer in the hypopharynx in any given year.

Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers

Cancers of the mouth and oropharynx are the most common cancers that develop in the neck.About 1.2% of people will get oral or pharynx cancer during their life.

It was estimated that in 2022, about 54,000 new cases would be reported in the United States, 2.8% of new cancer cases. this is in addition to 11,230 deaths from oral and oropharynx cancer that same year—1.8% of cancer deaths.

The new-case rate rose by about 1% each year between 2010 and 2019. The death rate for this cancer has also been rising—by about 0.4% per year. But on the positive side, survival rates have steadily increased since the 80s.

About 410,376 people live with oral and oropharynx cancers in the United States.

Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Cancers of the throat behind the nose are pretty rare. Annually, there’s only about 1 case for every 100,000 people in the United States. But in areas of China, there are as many as 21 cases per 100,000 people.

In 2020, about 133,354 cases of nasopharyngeal cancer were diagnosed worldwide, andthere were 80,008 deaths in that year.

Neck Cancer by Ethnicity and Gender

Men are more likely than women to develop any type of cancers in the neck and throat. This difference may be due to the greater use of tobacco and alcohol by men.

Neck cancers, especially laryngeal and oral/oropharyngeal cancers, are more commonly diagnosed in Black males than in White males. Black males also are more likely to die from them.

Neck Cancer by Age

Neck cancers are most commonly diagnosed in the late 50s to 60s, but they can occur at any age, as shown here:

  • Just over 20% (1 in 5) of oral and oropharynx cancers occur in people under age 55.
  • Almost half of the nasopharyngeal cancers diagnosed in the United States are in people under age 55.

Causes of Neck Cancer and Risk Factors

Most cancers that arise in the neck are due to the use of alcohol and tobacco. Using both raises the risk even higher. This link is particularly relevant for cancers of the oral cavity, hypopharynx and voice box.

There’s also a link between infections and cancers of the neck and throat. About 75% of cancers in the oropharynx are often due to a chronic infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically, type 16. Though the connection is not completely clear, nasopharyngeal cancers have been associated with chronic Epstein-Barr infections as well.

In addition, location worldwide seems to play a role in incidence rates of nasopharyngeal cancer. This cancer is most common in people who live or have lived in:

  • Southern China (including Hong Kong)
  • Singapore
  • Vietnam
  • Malaysia
  • The Philippines
  • Northwest Canada
  • Greenland

What Are the Mortality Rates for Neck Cancer?

Survival rates for people diagnosed with neck cancer are decent if caught early. Generally, the earlier the cancer is found, the better your chance of survival. Five-year survival rates can drop quickly once cancer spreads.

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results(SEER) Program database classifies cancer spread as one of the following three stages, as follows:

  • Localized cancers have not spread beyond the tissue they started in.
  • Regional cancers have spread to other tissues in the area, including lymph nodes.
  • Distant cancers have spread to other organs in far parts of the body.
Five-year Survival Rates for the Most Common Neck Cancers
Five-year survivalLaryngealOral and oropharyngealNasopharyngeal (data from 2011–2017)
Localized78.3%86.3%81.0%
Regional46.2%69.0%73.0%
Distant33.9%40.4%48.0%
Overall61.0%68.0%62.0%

What Are Survival Rates?

A disease’s survival rate is often defined as the percentage of people who are still living for a specified time after diagnosis. In this instance, the NCI uses the five-year mark for their survival rates. But it can be presented in several different ways.

Survival rate is not a prognosis for an individual, which is influenced by a person's cancer stage, type of cancer, overall health, response to treatment, and other factors.

Five-year survival rate statistics for rare neck cancers of the nasopharynx and hypopharynx also are available from the NCI. The hypopharynx includes both the pyriform sinus (a divot in the wall of the lower throat right near the larynx) and the posterior pharyngeal wall (the back wall of the swallowing passage in the throat).

Five-year Survival Rates for Nasopharyngeal and Hypopharngeal Cancers.
Five-Year SurvivalNasopharyngealPyriform SinusPosterior Pharyngeal Wall
Stage 165%–95%50%–80%50%–90%
Stage 250%–65%50%–60%70%–80%
Stage 330%–60%30%–50%50%–70%
Stage 45%–50%15%–25%30%–40%

Summary

Neck cancers are relatively rare in the United States. The most common cancers of the neck are those that develop in the mouth, the throat, and the voice box. These cancers develop when abnormal cells in these tissues grow out of control and spread from one tissue to another.

People with neck cancer may find a lump, nodule, or swelling in their neck; upon imaging, the healthcare provider will find a tumor. Neck cancers are generally more common in men than women, and some are more common in Black Americans than other populations. These cancers can be caused by alcohol and tobacco and by infections with certain viruses.

Survival rates vary for neck cancers and are worse when discovered in advanced stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where in the neck can cancer develop?

    The most common cancers of the neck are those that develop in the mouth, the throat, and the voice box. These cancers develop when cells in these tissues grow out of control and spread from one tissue to another.

    Learn MoreWhat Is Head and Neck Cancer?

  • Is neck cancer deadly?

    Yes and no. Neck cancer can be deadly. People diagnosed with neck cancer have a decent survival rate if it is caught early. Generally, the earlier the cancer is found, the better your chance of survival. Five-year survival rates can drop once cancer spreads.

  • Does HPV cause neck cancer?

    Yes. The human papillomavirus seems to cause about 75% of cancers in the oropharynx, which is the part of the throat at the back of the mouth.

    Learn MoreHuman Papillomavirus (HPV)

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. American Cancer Society. Cancers of the head and neck.

  2. National Cancer Institute. Head and neck cancers.

  3. American Cancer Society. What is throat cancer? | What is hypopharyngeal cancer?

  4. American Cancer Society. What is salivary gland cancer?

  5. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: laryngeal cancer.

  6. American Cancer Society. Key statistics for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

  7. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: oral cavity and pharynx cancer.

  8. American Cancer Society. Key statistics for nasopharyngeal cancer.

  9. World Cancer Research Fund International. Nasopharyngeal cancer: statistics.

  10. American Cancer Society. Risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer.

  11. American Cancer Society. Survival rates for nasopharyngeal cancer.

  12. National Cancer Institute. SEER training: five-year survival rates.

Neck Cancers Are Relatively Rare (2)

By Jennifer Welsh
Welsh is a Connecticut-based freelance science and health writer with a graduate certificate in science communication from UCSC.

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Neck Cancers Are Relatively Rare (2024)

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