What are the key statistics about laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers?

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for laryngeal cancer in the United States for 2013 are:

• About 12,260 new cases of laryngeal cancer (9,680 in men and 2,580 in women)
• About 3,630 people (2,860 men and 770 women) will die from laryngeal cancer

About 60% of laryngeal cancers start in the glottis (the area containing the vocal cords themselves), while about 35% develop in the supraglottic area (above the vocal cords). The rest develop in either the subglottis (below the vocal cords) or overlap more than one area so that it is hard to tell where they started.

The rate of new cases of laryngeal cancer is falling by about 2% to 3% a year, most likely because fewer people are smoking.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 13,930 new cases of cancer of the pharynx (throat) will occur in 2013 (11,200 in men and 2,730 in women). Only about 2,400 of these will start in the hypopharynx (about 1,920 in men and 480 in women).

Survival statistics for these cancers are discussed in the section, Survival rates for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers by stage.