What causes cancer of the larynx?

There is no single cause of cancer of the larynx (laryngeal cancer). It is likely that several factors combine to cause it. Not all of these factors are known, but research is going on all the time into the possible causes.

Smoking, and heavy drinking of alcohol (especially spirits) greatly increase the risk of developing cancer of the larynx.

Cancer of the larynx occurs mainly in middle-aged and older people, but it can occur in younger people who started smoking at an early age. It is more common in men than in women.

As with other cancers, cancer of the larynx is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.