Saxophone vs. Trumpet: Are they bad for your health?

To be more specific, I've heard that playing these two instruments can increase the risk of throat cancer. Is there any truth to that? If so, how high is the actual risk? Is it comparable to the risk smokers face for lung cancer, or perhaps lower... or even higher?

Look, I don't know about brass instruments, but playing the sax? That is definitely good for my soul!

Man, whenever I hear someone really nail a saxophone solo, it’s like a total mental reset for me! 🙂

And yeah, I’d actually love to learn how to play it one day... regardless of what you wrote in your post..

P.S. Do you actually play?

Not quite, but we’re actually getting pretty serious about it. It’s a goal I've had for a few years now, and the timing finally feels right. I’m just torn between the sax or the trumpet: the sax seems better for playing solo, but the trumpet might be more fun if I join a band later on...

I don't know, where on earth did you hear that it’s bad for your health?

I'd love to try out a music academy, but honestly, it's just too pricey for me right now.... A trumpet would sound absolutely killer in a band (I've been looping Google Box - 'truth don't die' lately).. But the saxophone... mmmm, man, that instrument is everything-- it's soulful, passionate, sultry, raw, romantic.. I am just obsessed with that sound. Do you actually have any experience playing? Because if I started, I'd be starting from absolute zero...

Oh boy, the moderator is going to kill us.. and ban us from the music section.

Oh, absolutely!

Just not for the neighbors.

restlessviper20 said:To be more specific, I heard that playing these two instruments actually bumps up your risk of throat cancer. Is there any truth to that? If so, how bad are we talking? Is it on par with what smokers deal with regarding lung cancer, or is it lower? Or maybe even higher?

I’m not totally sure about the throat cancer thing, but I remember reading somewhere—it was ages ago, so don't hold me to it—that playing the sax can lead to a stroke at a really young age because of the way you have to blow and how much strain you put on your lungs. Don't ask me to explain the science though, I clearly have no clue.

restlessviper20 said:To be more specific, I've heard that playing these two instruments can increase the risk of throat cancer. Is there any truth to that? If so, how high is the actual risk? Is it comparable to the risk smokers face for lung cancer, or perhaps lower... or even higher?

I play the sax myself, and honestly, I’m pretty sure that's just not true... I mean, how can people who have been playing the saxophone or trumpet for forty years be in perfect health?

Oh my gosh... you just resurrected a thread from nearly six years ago...

Well, there isn't much left to discuss here, so let's just go ahead and close this one out.