Head and neck cancers are composed of a group of cancers that include mouth, nose, throat, sinuses (cavities that sit behind the forehead and cheeks), larynx or voice box and salivary glands. This section combines head and neck, oral, laryngeal, salivary, nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers.
About this Cancer
According to the Canadian Cancer Statistics 2025, an estimated 8,100 people will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer (5,800 males and 2,300 females). An estimated 2,200 people will die from head and neck cancer in 2025 (1,600 males and 620 females).
Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2025
Head and neck cancers cover a variety of different cancers. Generally, symptoms for head and neck cancer can include:
- Persistent sore throat
- Frequent headaches
- A lump in the throat, mouth or neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent infections in the nasal passage, throat, ear, etc.
- Sinus blockages that don’t clear up over time
- Facial numbness
- Problems with dentures
For oral cancer:
- A white or red lump in the gums or tongue
- Swelling or growth in the jaw
- Unexplained pain or bleeding in the mouth,
For laryngeal cancer:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Trouble speaking or breathing
- Changes to the patient’s voice
For throat cancer:
- Trouble hearing
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble swallowing
For more information, visit Cleveland Clinic or the National Cancer Institute.
The following can increase the risk of getting head and neck cancer:
- Alcohol consumption
- Tobacco and betel nut chewing
- The human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
- Occupational exposure to asbestos, wood dust, stone dust, etc.
- Genetic history
- Exposure to radiation
- Poor oral hygiene
For more information, visit Cleveland Clinic or the National Cancer Institute.
The following methods can be used to diagnose head and neck cancer:
- Health history and physical exam
- Biopsy
- CT Scan
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- X-ray
- Biomarker Testing
- For nasal and paranasal sinus
- Nasal endoscopy
- For Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal
- Laryngoscopy
- Videostroboscopy
Treatment depends on the specific type of cancer that each patient has. These are some of the more common types of treatment:
- Surgery, including laser surgery, excision, lymph node or neck dissection and reconstructive surgery (mainly in post-treatment).
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy, such as tumor-agnostic therapy or EGFR inhibitors
- Immunotherapy
For more information, visit Cancer.net or Cleveland Clinic.
Stories from Survivors
We currently do not have any head and neck cancer stories. If you know of any, please share them with us at info@survivornet.ca.
Resources
- August 14th, 2024 – Can a Mouthwash-based Test Help Predict Head and Neck Cancer Recurrence? – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
- August 8th, 2024 – Cannabis use tied to head and neck cancer – Keck Medicine of USC
- July 9th, 2024 – Mayo Clinic marks medical milestone with world’s first known successful total larynx transplant performed in a patient with an active cancer as part of a clinical trial – Mayo Clinic
- April 16th, 2024 – Researchers discover urine-based test to detect head and neck cancer – Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan
- 2019 – Does socioeconomic status affect stage at presentation for larynx cancer in Canada’s universal healthcare system? – Canadian Research Data Centre Network
- 2018 – Secretory carcinoma: the eastern Canadian experience and literature review – Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
- 2011 – Wood dust and sinonasal cancer in Canada – Occupational Cancer Research Centre
- 2008 – Delays in Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers – Canadian Dental Association
Head and Neck Cancer Groups
- Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (USA)
- American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (USA)
- American Head and Neck Cancer Society (USA)
- Throat Cancer Foundation (UK)
- Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer Foundation (THANC) (USA)
- Mouth Cancer Foundation (UK)
- Gromada Head & Neck Cancer Foundation (USA)
- The Oral Cancer Foundation (USA)
- Oral Cancer Awareness (OrCA) (USA)
- Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC) (USA)