Laryngeal cancer

Tobacco and alcohol use significantly increases the risk of developing voice box cancer. Both cigarettes and alcohol contain toxic chemicals that can damage the vocal cords. People who regularly consume both are at a much higher risk of developing the disease than those who don’t. Heavy alcohol use is particularly linked to supraglottic cancer (above the vocal cords) and glottic cancer (on the vocal cords).

Poor nutrition often worsens voice box cancer due to difficulty swallowing or aspiration caused by the cancer. Individuals with vitamin deficiencies are also more susceptible to developing the disease.

While those with voice box cancer may be tested for HPV as a potential factor, there’s a less clear link between the two compared to oropharyngeal cancers.

People with certain genetic diseases or syndromes may have a higher risk of developing voice box cancer. Some genetic syndromes linked to voice box cancer include:

• Fanconi anemia: People with fanconi anemia often experience blood problems at an early age. They have a significantly elevated risk of cancers affecting the mouth, throat, and voice box.
• Dyskeratosis congenita: People with dyskeratosis congenita often develop aplastic anemia, rashes, and abnormal fingernails and toenails. They face a very high risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box when they are young.
• Plummer-Vinson Syndrome (PVS): People with PVS often have difficulty swallowing and may develop iron-deficiency anemia, glossitis, cheilosis, and esophageal webs. They have a high risk of various throat cancers, including voice box cancer.

Exposure to certain toxins and chemicals in the workplace (such as textile industries) has been linked to the development of voice box cancer. These chemicals include:

• Wood dust
• Paint
• Chemicals used in metal working
• Petroleum
• Plastics
• Asbestos (some studies have revealed a possible link to voice box cancer)

Studies show that people assigned male at birth are four times more likely to develop voice box cancer than those assigned female at birth.

This difference may be due to historical trends, as people assigned male at birth tended to smoke and drink more heavily. However, in recent years, these habits have become more common among people assigned female at birth, increasing their risk of developing voice box cancer as well.

A high number of voice box cancer patients are 65 or older when the cancers are first detected. Although rare, voice box cancer can appear in children who have recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. But this is uncommon.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a condition where stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, may be linked to an increased risk of voice box cancer.