What is head and neck cancer?
Head and neck cancers are cancers that start in the head and neck area. There are many kinds of cancer that can happen in the head and neck. Each kind begins as a growth of cells that can invade and destroy healthy body tissue.
Types of head and neck cancer
Cancers of the head and neck can form in the:
Oral cavity: Includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gums, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate (bony top of the mouth), and the small area of the gum behind the wisdom teeth.
Throat (pharynx)
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity
Voice box (larynx)
Salivary glands
How common are head and neck cancers?
In India, the number of cancer cases is rising. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, there will be 2.1 million new cancer cases in India by 2040, an increase of 57.5% from the year 2020.
Risk factors for head and neck cancer
India has the highest number of oral cavity cancer patients in the world. This could be related to the widespread use of tobacco in India. Tobacco use has been identified as a risk factor in 80 to 90% of patients with oral cancer.
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Chewing smokeless tobacco
- Betel nut
Additional risk factors include:
- Sun exposure
- Radiation
- Inhalation of asbestos or wood or nickel dust
- Poor oral hygiene
Risk factors for HPV-related head and neck cancers include:
- Sexual exposure to HPV
- Smoking marijuana
Symptoms of head and neck cancer
Common symptoms include:
- A new lump or bump on the neck, face or breathing and swallowing passages
- A sore that does not heal
- A sore throat that does not go away
- Difficulty swallowing
- A change in the voice
- New hoarseness
- White or red patches on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
- Jaw swelling that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
- Unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth, throat or nose
- Chronic sinus infections that do not respond to antibiotic treatment
- Numbness or paralysis of the facial muscles
- Ear pain
These symptoms may result from cancer or other conditions. It is important to be evaluated by a physician to get the right diagnosis and treatment.
Prevention
How can I prevent head and neck cancer?
You can take steps to help prevent most head and neck cancers. To protect yourself :
Quit tobacco : stop using all forms of tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, dip and chewing tobacco).
Cut back on drinking : reducing your alcohol intake or cutting it out can reduce your cancer risk.
Get the HPV vaccine : HPV vaccines protects against several strains of HPV, including those that cause throat cancer.
Use sun protection : wearing sunscreen and protective clothing when you’re outside can reduce your risk of skin cancer. Although it’s not technically a head and neck cancer, skin cancer is the most common cancer that affects your head, neck and face.
If you’ve already had cancer, quitting tobacco and alcohol can reduce your risk of cancer returning.