Head & Neck Cancer
Everything You Need To Know About Head & Neck Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, head and neck cancer, including oral cancer, account for about 4% of all cancers in the United States. It is estimated that by 2021, 65,630 people are expected to be diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Fortunately, in the past 20 years, the number of head and neck cancers and the death rate associated with the disease have been declining.
Head and neck cancer may develop in the mouth, throat, nose, salivary glands, and other areas of the head and neck. Head and Neck Cancer Doctor in Delhi NCR Head and neck tumors and treatment-related side effects may impair the patient’s ability to eat, swallow, and breathe.
What causes head & neck cancer?
Smoking is the biggest risk of developing head and neck cancer. Secondhand smoke may also increase the risk. Chewing tobacco is associated with oral cancer.
Approximately 85% of head and neck diagnoses are related to tobacco use. The mixed use of tobacco and alcohol accounts for at least 75% of head and neck cancers.
People infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) have a higher risk of certain throat and oral cancers. In recent years, HPV has been on the rise, especially among people in their 40s and 50s.
In addition to HPV infection and smoking and drinking, risk factors for head and neck cancer include:
Who has head & neck cancer?
Men are two to three times more likely to develop head and neck cancer than women. These cancers are more common in people over 50 years of age.
Types of head & neck cancer
Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which form in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat. These squamous cell carcinomas can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and lungs.
Types of head & neck cancer include:
- Laryngeal cancer, a type of laryngeal cancer that affects the larynx (sometimes called a voice box)
- Nasopharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the nasopharynx, in the upper part of the throat behind the nose
- Hypopharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the hypopharynx, the lower part of the throat (sometimes called the esophagus)
- Cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, which form at the back of the nose
- Salivary gland cancer, found in the salivary glands near the jawbone
- Oral cancer, which starts in the mouth
- Oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the back of the oropharynx, in the back of the pharynx
- Tonsil cancer
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Other type of Cancer
Head & neck cancer symptoms
The symptoms of head and neck cancer depend on where the cancer occurs and how it spreads.
For example, a tumor in the throat or pharynx may appear as a lump in the throat. Cancer cells in the mouth may cause mouth ulcers or swelling of the jaw.
Some common symptoms of head & neck cancer include:
- A lump in the nose, neck or throat, with or without pain
- Persistent sore throat
- Dysphagia (dysphagia)
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Cough often
- Voice changes or hoarseness
- Earache or hearing impairment
- Headache
- Red or white patches in the mouth
- Unexplained bad breath
- Nasal congestion or persistent congestion
- Frequent nosebleeds or abnormal discharge
- Difficulty breathing
Other symptoms are similar to those in less severe cases, such as the common cold. Voice changes, headache, sore throat or cough may be symptoms of throat cancer. Pain or tinnitus may also accompany certain head and neck cancers.
Diagnose head & neck cancer
CTCA® cancer experts use the following tools and procedures to diagnose head and neck cancer:
- Indirect laryngoscopy and laryngoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Biopsy, open biopsy or fine needle aspiration (FNA)
- X-ray
- Barium swallow, also known as the upper Gi series
- CT scan
- NMR
- PET scan
Head & neck cancer treatment
Treatment options for this type of cancer patient may include:
- Head and Neck Surgery
- Immunotherapy allows the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Targeted therapy, including drugs targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
Unusual cells that grow in bone. Bone tumours aren’t usually cancerous. Bone tumours can be caused by abnormal healing, radiation therapy, and inherited conditions. They can also be caused by bone cancer or other cancers that have spread to the bone from elsewhere in the body. A bone tumour may result in a painful mass. Some people feel dull and aching pains. Sometimes, minor injuries can cause a fracture close to the tumour. Radiation and surgery are two options. Some non-cancerous tumours can be treated without any treatment.
Treatment options for head and neck cancer may combine surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The course of treatment for each patient is determined by a variety of variables, such as the location of the tumour, the cancer’s stage, the patient’s age, and general health.
According to research, people with oropharyngeal malignancies that are HPV-positive had a substantially better prognosis and a higher likelihood of fully recovering after the same treatment as those with HPV-negative tumors. As a result, ongoing clinical trials are looking at whether individuals with HPV-positive malignancies may be treated with less invasive procedures like immunotherapy or less invasive radiotherapy.
Major risk factors for head and neck cancers include alcohol and cigarette use. Head and neck cancer has been related to the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco (such as chewing tobacco, snuff, or betel quid) (except for salivary gland cancers). Any sort of alcohol consumption, including beer, wine, and liquor, increases the chance of developing mouth, throat, and voice box malignancies.
Human papillomavirus (HPV), a typical sexually transmitted virus, has been associated to over 70% of malignancies in the oropharynx, which comprises the tonsils, soft palate, and base of the tongue.
There are various strategies to reduce your chance of developing head and neck cancer:
- Avoid smoking. Quit smoking if you do. reduces the chance of cancer.
- Use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited.
- Be careful how much alcohol you consume.
- Consult your physician on HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccination can shield against the strains of HPV that are most often linked to oropharyngeal and other malignancies. Only those who are a specific age are advised to be vaccinated.
- Use dental dams and condoms regularly and properly during oral intercourse to help reduce your risk of transmitting or contracting HPV.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat outside, use sunscreen-containing lip balm, and refrain from indoor tanning.
- Regularly see the dentist. Regular checkups help to detect head and neck cancers early, when they are still treatable.
Your care team must identify the type of head and neck cancer you have before you can start treatment. Creating the ideal treatment plan for you should start with this important initial step.
Our care teams at Memorial Sloan Kettering have access to a wealth of information thanks to modern pathology and imaging investigations. These tests are carried out by radiologists and pathologists who specialise in head and neck cancer. Our team has the knowledge thanks to this training to make sure you receive the proper diagnosis. We strive to make your care as unique as possible.
Some of these tests will be used to monitor the tumor’s growth and gauge your treatment response as we proceed with your care.