Voice Box (Laryngeal) Cancer refers to the development of malignant tumors in the tissues of the larynx, the organ responsible for producing sound and aiding in breathing. It is a preventable disease because the primary risk factors are associated with changeable lifestyle behaviors, such as not smoking. Laryngeal cancer is relatively common and can affect people of any age, but it is most frequently diagnosed in individuals over the age of 50, and it occurs more often in men than in women.