Cancer statistics: Mouth, pharynx and larynx

Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer: Incidence

In the UK in 2008, 8,027 cases of cancer of the mouth, pharynx and larynx were diagnosed.

Of these cancer cases, 5,659 were in men, and 2,368 were in women.

Mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer: Mortality

In the UK in 2009, there were 2,212 deaths from cancer of the mouth, pharynx and larynx.

Of these deaths, 1,407 were men and 850 were women.

Proportion preventable

By far the most important thing for reducing risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer is not smoking. But scientists also estimate the following proportion of cases of mouth, pharynx and larynx cancer could be prevented in the UK:

Lifestyle factor	Does doing more increase or decrease risk?	Approximate % preventable in UK through healthy changes
Non-starchy vegetables	Decrease	34
Fruits	Decrease	17
Alcohol	Increase	41
Total		67

You can find out more about how these preventability estimates were calculated. For detailed information about what change would be needed for each factor, download Appendix A of the Policy Report on the Diet and Cancer Report website.

The figures on incidence and mortality come from the following sources: for England (incidence); for Wales (incidence); for England and Wales (mortality); for Scotland; and for Northern Ireland.