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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living with cancer newsletter

Subscribe to our Living with cancer newsletter to stay up to date on cancer topics.

There's no proven way to prevent throat cancer from occurring. But in order to reduce your risk of throat cancer, you can:

  • Stop smoking or don't start smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, so get some help. Your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of the many stop-smoking strategies, such as medication, nicotine replacement products and counseling.
  • Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. For women, this means one drink a day. For men, moderate drinking means no more than two drinks a day.
  • Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of throat cancer. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
  • Use caution around chemicals. When working with chemicals, whether on the job or around your house, carefully follow the directions. Avoid breathing hazardous chemical fumes. Properly ventilate the room where you're working and wear a mask over your nose and mouth.
References
  1. Quon H. Cancer of the head and neck. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2007:1177.
  2. Armstrong WB, et al. Malignant tumors of the larynx. In: Flint PW, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05283-2&uniq=203948673#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05283-2%3Btype%3DbookHome. Accessed June 16, 2010.
  3. Uppaluri R, et al. Neoplasms of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. In: Flint PW, et al. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05283-2&uniq=203948673#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05283-2..X0001-8--TOP%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-323-05283-2%3Btype%3DbookHome. Accessed June 16, 2010.
  4. Head and neck cancers. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/head-and-neck.pdf. Accessed June 2, 2010.
  5. Laryngeal cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/laryngeal/patient/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
  6. Hypopharyngeal cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/laryngeal/patient/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
  7. Oropharyngeal cancer treatment. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/oropharyngeal/patient/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
  8. What you need to know about cancer of the larynx. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/larynx/allpages. Accessed June 2, 2010.
  9. Erbitux (prescribing information). Branchburg, N.J.: ImClone Systems Incorporated; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/125084s167lbl.pdf. Accessed June 17, 2010.
  10. Freedman ND, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and head and neck cancer risk in a large United States prospective cohort study. International Journal of Cancer. 2008;122:2330.
  11. Tonsils and adenoids. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/tonsilsAdenoids.cfm. Accessed June 29, 2010.
DS00349 July 10, 2010

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