How long does it take for throat cancer to develop?

Smolders: The initial changes that lead to cancer begin years, maybe decades, before it appears, as evidenced by the fact that the longer a person has smoked, the greater the risk. It becomes visible to the skilled eye eventually, and when it first appears is usually curable if picked up fast. Good lcuk.

Used to be "throat": That is base of tongue, tonsils, oropharynx, structures above true cords, were cumulative risk of heavy smoking. Today, the viral hpv pair var. 16, 18 have taken over as # 1 cause. Hpv infects easily, but causes cancer infrequently.