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.
Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms
Head and neck cancers cover a variety of different cancers. Generally, symptoms for head and neck cancer 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.
Head and Neck Cancer Risk Factors
The following increases the risk of getting head and neck cancer:
- Alcohol consumption
- Tabacco and betel nut chewing
- the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Epstine-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.
Head and Neck Cancer Diagnosis
The following are methods 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
Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
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.
Head and Neck Cancer Stories
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.
International Head and Neck Cancer Groups
- Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
- American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- American Head and Neck Cancer Society
- Throat Cancer Foundation
- Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer Foundation (THANC)
- Mouth Cancer Foundation
- Gromada Head & Neck Cancer Foundation
- The Oral Cancer Foundation
- Oral Cancer Awareness (OrCA)
- Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer (SPOHNC)