This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 02-1568) has important information about cancer* of the larynx. Each year in the United States, more than 10,000 people learn they have this type of cancer.

This booklet discusses possible causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It also has information to help patients cope with cancer of the larynx.

Information specialists at the NCI's Cancer Information Service ¹ at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions about cancer and can send NCI materials. They can also send up-to-date treatment information from NCI’s PDQ® ² database. In addition, many NCI publications and fact sheets are on the Internet at http://www.cancer.gov/publications. People in the United States and its territories may use this Web site to order publications. This Web site also explains how people outside the United States can mail or fax their requests for NCI publications.

Glossary Terms

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.