Estimated new cases from throat cancer (including cancers of the larynx) in the United States in 2011 are 12,740 people for laryngeal cancer and 13,580 people for pharyngeal cancer. The estimated deaths are 3,560 people for laryngeal cancer and 2,430 people for pharyngeal cancer.
In the United States, there are 30,000 to 35,000 people diagnosed with throat cancer each year and about 8,000 people die from the disease every year. The American Lung Association says that the incidence of throat cancers is much higher in men than in women, almost 90%. Men are also twice as likely to die of throat cancers. Throat cancer is curable if it is detected early. Throat cancer is especially unfortunate since it is preventable and could be detected early by simple oral examination.
The survival rates for throat cancer (laryngeal cancer) for Stage I is about 90 %, which can be treated by surgery or radiation. During Stage II, the survival rate is about 75% which is cured by radiation. Stage III throat cancer survival rate is about 60 % through total laryngectomy. For Stage IV, about 30 % of survival rate for the cancer by total laryngectomy, neck dissection and post operative radiation.
Lately, with newer techniques where debulking surgery and radical laryngectomy is done after initial chemotherapy and next followed up with radiotherapy, and if necessary with chemotherapy , 5-year cure rates of 60 to 65% for stage III and IV have been achieved in some centres. Most specialists favor surgery for stage III larynx cancer and it is shown that with radiotherapy there is excellent survival without recurrence can be achieved (65% at 5 years). However, there can be significant side effects from the therapeutic procedures such as esophageal strictures from the radiotherapy.
