How long does it take to get throat cancer from smoking?

Variable time: Each person has different susceptibility to cancer and the time from exposure to tobacco to cancer is extremely variable. However, if you use tobacco in any form, quit while you are ahead. In a susceptible person even second hand smoke can cause cancer.

Years: Smoking can cause many cancers. There is no data to predict how long it will take to cause cancer, like throat cancer. But the longer you smoke, the more chance you will get cancer. So it is better to quit smoking asap.

Usually several year: The relation between smoking and throat cancer is not as well defined as that for lung cancer and smoking. With that said, there is a definite causal relationship often associated with alcohol as well. Young smokers of get throat cancer so there is no safe time. Smokers should stop and be sure to have careful oral exams from their dentists and/or physicians.

A number of years.: The risk of head and neck cancer is associated with both smoking and alcohol consumption (and also viral infection with hpv). People who have smoked heavily, but only a few years are at less risk than light smokers who have smoked for many years, so duration of exposure is just as important as smoke of the exposure. There is, however, no sure "safe limit." smoking is just not healthy.