Throat cancer could mean cancer of the larynx, but is not a precise medical term. It may also mean other types of cancer, for example cancer of the food pipe (oesophagus) or thyroid cancer. Laryngeal cancer occurs when cancerous (malignant) cells form on the tissues of the larynx, or voice box. People who smoke or use tobacco are at risk of developing throat cancer. Excessive alcohol use also increases risk. Smoking and drinking alcohol combined lead to an increased risk for throat cancers. Most cancers of the throat develop in adults older than 50. Men are 10 times more likely than women to develop throat cancers.