Overview
Tonsil cancer is a cancerous tumor on your tonsils, which are in the back of your throat (pharynx). Tonsil cancer is the most common form of oropharyngeal cancer. A sore throat that doesn’t go away is a common early symptom. Often, healthcare providers can successfully treat tonsil cancer if they detect it before it spreads.
How common is tonsil cancer?
It’s not common. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2024, more than 21,000 people in the U.S. will develop a type of oropharyngeal cancer, including tonsil cancer. For comparison, the ACS estimates more than 2 million people in the U.S. will develop some type of cancer.
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