Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat, and lymph nodes in the neck. Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose, and throat. Symptoms include

  • A lump or sore that does not heal
  • A sore throat that does not go away
  • Trouble swallowing
  • A change or hoarseness in the voice

Head and neck cancers are twice as common in men. Using tobacco or alcohol increases your risk. In fact, around 75 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco. Infection with HPV is a risk factor for some head and neck cancers.

To diagnose head and neck cancer, your doctor will do a physical exam and diagnostic tests. You will have a biopsy, where a sample of tissue is taken out and examined under a microscope. It is the only test that can tell for sure if you have cancer.

If found early, these cancers are often curable. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination. Treatments can affect eating, speaking or even breathing, so patients may need rehabilitation.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer

The following features are indicative of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • lump or sore that does not heal
  • sore throat that does not go away
  • trouble swallowing
  • change or hoarseness in the voice
  • unusual bleeding
  • facial swelling
  • trouble breathing

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Common Causes of Head and Neck Cancer

The following are the most common causes of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • use of alcohol
  • use of tobacco
  • human papillomavirus infection

Other Causes of Head and Neck Cancer

The following are the less common causes of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • use of betel quid in mouth
  • consumption of preserved or salted foods
  • occupational exposure
  • radiation exposure
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection

Risk Factors for Head and Neck Cancer

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • alcohol consumption
  • tobacco use
  • human papillomavirus infection
  • betel quid
  • preserved or salted foods
  • occupational exposure
  • radiation exposure
  • Epstein-Barr virus infection

Prevention of Head and Neck Cancer

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Head and Neck Cancer. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • avoid consumption of tobacco and alcohol

Occurrence of Head and Neck Cancer

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Head and Neck Cancer cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Common between 1 - 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Head and Neck Cancer most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged > 50 years

Common Gender

Head and Neck Cancer can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Head and Neck Cancer:
  • Complete head and neck exam: To check any abnormal areas or signs of cancer
  • Panendoscopy: To look at the complete area with scopes and take out pieces of tissue to be checked under a microscope
  • Biopsy: To diagnose cancer
  • CT scan: To check if the cancer has spread to the lungs, lymph nodes or other organs
  • MRI scan: To check the size of the cancer
  • Chest x-rays: To check if the cancer has spread to the lungs
  • PET scan: To diagnose cancer with a special type of sugar
  • Blood tests: To diagnose cancer

Doctor for Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • Oncologist

Complications of Head and Neck Cancer if untreated

Yes, Head and Neck Cancer causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Head and Neck Cancer is left untreated:
  • can be fatal

Procedures for Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

The following procedures are used to treat Head and Neck Cancer:
  • Surgery: Removal of cancerous cells
  • Radiation therapy: Kills the cancer cells
  • Chemotherapy: Kills the cancer cells

Self-care for Head and Neck Cancer

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • Have healthy diet habits: Healthy diets improves the quality of life
  • Exercise regularly: Improves quality of life of a patient

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Head and Neck Cancer:
  • Acupuncture: Helps in dealing with symptoms
  • Naturopathy: Helps in head and neck cancer
  • Chiropractic treatment: Helps in dealing with pain

Patient Support for Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

The following actions may help Head and Neck Cancer patients:
  • Supportive care: Helps in patients and their families cope with cancer and its treatment

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Head and Neck Cancer.
Esophageal Cancer
Eye Cancer
Nasal Cancer
Oral Cancer
Parathyroid Disorders
Salivary Gland Cancer
Throat Cancer
Thyroid Cancer

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