Whos at risk for larynx cancer?
No one knows the exact causes of cancer of the larynx. Doctors cannot explain why one person gets this disease and another does not. We do know that cancer is not contagious. You cannot “catch” cancer from another person. People with certain risk factors are more likely to get cancer of the larynx. A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of developing this disease. Studies have found the following risk factors: • Age. Cancer of the larynx occurs most often in people over the age of 55. • Gender. Men are four times more likely than women to get cancer of the larynx. • Race. African Americans are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with cancer of the larynx. • Smoking. Smokers are far more likely than nonsmokers to get cancer of the larynx. The risk is even higher for smokers who drink alcohol heavily. People who stop smoking can greatly decrease their risk of cancer of the larynx, as well as cancer of the lung, mouth, pancreas, bladder, and esophagus. Also, quitting smo
