About
Head and neck cancer starts in the mouth, throat, nose, sinuses, or voice box (larynx). These cancers are often caused by tobacco use, regular alcohol consumption, and HPV infection. Symptoms include lumps that lead to difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness, and a persistent sore throat. The most common types of cancer that fall in this category are:
Oral cavity cancer- Affects the lips, tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, and floor of the mouth.
Pharyngeal cancer- Affects the throat in different parts, namely the oropharynx (back of the throat), nasopharynx (upper part of the throat ), and hypopharynx (lower part of the throat).
Laryngeal cancer- Affects the larynx or voice box
Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer – Affects the inside of the nose and the air pockets around it.
Salivary gland cancer- Affects the salivary glands, that produce saliva.
Symptoms
The symptoms vary depending on the part of the mouth that has been affected, but some common symptoms include:
- Persistent sore throat
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in voice or hoarseness
- A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
- Swelling in the neck
- Ear pain
- Persistent nasal congestion or sinus infections
- Oral cavity cancer may show prominent symptoms like white or red sores on the gums and tongue, bleeding, swelling, and pain in the mouth
- Pharyngeal cancer may show prominent symptoms like pain during swallowing, persistent pain in the throat, ringing in the ears
- Laryngeal cancer may show prominent symptoms like difficulty in breathing and speaking, pain in the ears, pain during swallowing
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer may show prominent symptoms like blocked sinuses, chronic sinus infection, nosebleeds, swelling in the eyes, pain in the upper teeth
- Salivary gland cancer may show prominent symptoms like Numbness in the facial muscles, persistent pain in the chin, neck, and face, and swelling in the jawbone
Causes
Some common causes and risk factors are:
- Excessive alcohol or tobacco consumption
- Cancer-causing types of HPV
- Exposure to radiation
- Certain genetic disorders
- Poor oral hygiene: This can contribute to cancers of the oral cavity
- Occupational exposure that includes exposure to wood dust, or certain chemicals can increase the risk
- Radiation exposure
Diagnosis
It involves a series of steps to confirm the presence of cancer, determine its exact location, and figure out its stage. Some of them are:
- Imaging Tests
- Biopsy
- Endoscopy
- Blood Tests
Treatment
The treatment of head and neck cancer depends on the severity of symptoms and the overall health of the patient, common treatment methods include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted drug therapy
