What do we mean by 'Oropharyngeal Cancer'? It is a type of Throat Cancer that your doctor might call by the part it has grown in, like tonsil or tongue base cancer. If it's not the cancer type you're looking for, please explore the information about other types of Throat Cancers or other types of Head and Neck Cancers.
Cancer that starts anywhere in the oropharynx is called Oropharyngeal Cancer. Your doctor may also call it by the part it has grown in, like tonsil or tongue base cancer. Most Oropharyngeal Cancers start in the cells that line the surface of the throat (called squamous cell carcinomas). Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. These cells build up to form a mass (or lump). Watch a 3D video explainer about Oropharyngeal Cancer:
The oropharynx is made up of four parts (see diagram below):
sides of the throat, including the tonsils
base of the tongue (back third of the tongue), sitting above the voice box
soft roof of the mouth (or the soft palate) and the fleshy part of skin hanging from the roof (or the uvula)
back wall of the throat (or the posterior pharyngeal wall)
The oropharynx has two main jobs:
it allows air to pass from the nose and mouth, through the voice box and windpipe, into the lungs
it pushes food and drinks from the mouth, down the food passage to the stomach. The base of the tongue base helps stop food and drinks from entering the voicebox and the lungs.
​Diagram of the oropharynx and the surrounding areas:
Doctors often can’t explain why a person gets cancer. But we do know what makes some cancers more likely. The main causes of Oropharyngeal Cancer are:
Smoking (cigarettes, cigars or pipes) or using smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco) — If a person smokes or has smoked in the past, they have a higher risk of getting oropharyngal cancer than someone who does not smoke. Get information about quitting smoking.
Drinking alcohol — If a person drinks a lot of alcohol over many years, they have a higher risk of getting oropharyngeal cancer, especially combined with smoking. Get information about reducing how much alcohol you drink.
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