ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about screening for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. You will also learn the risks and benefits of screening. Use the menu to see other pages.

Screening is used to look for cancer before you have any symptoms or signs. Scientists have developed, and continue to develop, tests that can be used to screen a person for specific types of cancer. The overall goals of cancer screening are to:

• Lower the number of people who die from the disease, or eliminate deaths from cancer altogether

• Lower the number of people who develop the disease

Learn more about the basics of cancer screening.

Screening information for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer

People who drink alcohol and/or use tobacco should receive a general screening examination at least once a year, even if they are not experiencing any symptoms. This is a simple and quick procedure in which the doctor looks in the nose, mouth, and throat for abnormalities and feels for lumps in the neck. If anything unusual is found, the doctor will recommend a more extensive examination.

The next section in this guide is Symptoms and Signs. It explains what body changes or medical problems laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers can cause. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.