Neck and throat cancer are often mistaken for being the same cancer. Though they have similarities, affect nearly the same area and might have some overlap, they are considered to be different cancers. Neck cancer — sometimes more generally referred to as head and neck cancer — is cancer of the oral cavity, salivary glands, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, as well as the larynx and lymph nodes. Throat cancer is cancer of the pharynx, vocal cords and possibly the larynx. Neck and throat cancer have some signs and symptoms that are similar and others that are found only with one or the other type of cancer.

Both of these types of cancer share the symptoms of voice changes, difficulty swallowing and persistent ear pain. They differ in some of the signs and symptoms, however. Some other indicators of neck cancer include a lump in the neck that will not go away, a growth forming in the mouth, coughing and throwing up blood and changes in the skin. Other throat cancer indicators include coughing, persistent sore throat and weight loss.

Neck and throat cancer are often caused by excessive tobacco and alcohol usage. Throat cancer is also caused by a mutation developed by cells in the throat. Risk factors for neck and throat cancer include sun exposure, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, radiation, inhalation of industrial materials such as wood and dust and unhealthy oral hygiene. Plummer-Vinson syndrome and exposure to asbestos also are risk factors, as is a diet that lacks fruit and vegetables.

There are six types of throat cancer: nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, supraglottic, glottic and subglottic. Nasopharyngeal cancer affects the uppermost part of the throat, behind the nose. Oropharyngeal cancer affects middle area behind the mouth. Hypopharyngeal cancer is cancer located at the bottom of the throat. Supraglottic, glottic and subglottic cancers affect the top, middle and bottom of the vocal cords, respectively.

The most common treatments for neck and throat cancer are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The most common treatment, chemotherapy, uses very strong chemicals to kill cancer cells at a rapid pace. It can be combined with other drugs to work more effectively. Chemotherapy carries harsh and mild side effects that might or might not be treatable.

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a hole in the patient's neck and into the trachea. This allows him or her to breathe when the airway is blocked or unable to be used. Proton therapy and brachytherapy are forms of radiation therapy that are effective but are not as powerful or as common as chemotherapy.