Description

Head and neck cancers are cancers that begin in the head and neck. There are many types of cancer that can occur in the head and neck. Each class begins as a growth of cells that can invade and destroy healthy body tissue.

Head and neck cancer often refers to cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands. But other types of cancer can occur in the head and neck, and is sometimes considered part of this category as well.

Head and neck cancer is not a diagnosis. Instead, it is a category of cancers that have some things in common. For example, many of the cancers of the head and neck share some risk factors and treatments. The majority of head and neck cancers begin in the squamous cells. These thin, flat cells in the outer layer of the skin. Also, line the inside of the nose, mouth and throat. Cancers that begin in the squamous cells are called squamous cell carcinomas. The cancer can start in other types of cells in the head and neck, although these are less common.

Which is the treatment that you will need for your head and neck cancer depends on many factors. These may include the location of the cancer, its size and the type of cells involved. Your health care team, it is also considered that their health in general. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and others.

Symptoms

Head and neck cancer symptoms may include pain in the mouth and pain when swallowing. The symptoms may depend on where the cancer starts. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

Symptoms in the mouth and throat:

  • A lump in the neck that you can be able to feel through the skin. Normally, the lump is not painful.
  • A sore in the mouth that does not heal.
  • Coughing up blood.
  • The hoarse voice.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Pain when swallowing.

Symptoms in the nose:

  • Nosebleeds.
  • Nasal congestion, or stuffy nose, that does not go away.

Other symptoms:

  • A sore on the skin of the face, neck, or mouth that does not heal.
  • The ear pain.
  • Losing weight without trying.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

Experts are not sure exactly what causes cancer of the head and neck. What makes a cancer may depend on where the cancer starts. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

In general, the head and neck cancer begins when a cell in the head and the neck develops changes in your DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes that are given different instructions. The changes, to tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

Cancer of the head and neck have some risk factors in common. These include the use of tobacco and consumption of alcohol. Other risk factors depend on the location of the cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

In general, the things that increase the risk of head and neck cancer include:

  • The use of tobacco. The use of tobacco of any type increases the risk of many types of cancer of the head and neck. Examples of the types of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff.
  • The consumption of alcohol. Frequent and excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of many types of cancer of the head and neck.
  • Be exposed to the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV. HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. For most people, it causes no problems and goes away on its own. For others, it can cause changes in cells that can lead to many types of cancer. Many of throat cancers are thought to be caused by HPV.
  • The breath of the chemicals in the air. Exposure to chemicals in the air can increase the risk of cancer in the nose and sinuses. The chemicals in the home and in the workplace can increase the risk.
  • Be exposed to the sun or tanning lamps. Ultraviolet light from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer of the head and neck. Ultraviolet light may also come from the lights used in tanning beds.

Prevention

To help prevent head and neck cancers, not smoking, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink. Other steps that you can take may vary depending on the specific type of cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

To reduce the risk of cancer of the head and neck:

Do not use tobacco

If you do not smoke or use other types of tobacco, don't start. If you use tobacco, make a plan to quit smoking. Talk to a healthcare professional about all the things that can help you stop smoking.

Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all

If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.

Ask about the HPV vaccine

To receive a vaccine to prevent HPV infection may reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers. Ask a health care professional if the HPV vaccine is right for you.

Protects the head and neck from the sun

Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and neck. The use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen generously. Re-apply every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.

Diagnosis

Head and neck cancer diagnosis often begins with an examination of the head and neck. Other tests may include imaging tests and a procedure to extract some cells for testing. The tests used for the diagnosis may depend on the cancer's location. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

The examination of the head and neck

A professional of the health can be seen in the head and neck to ulcers or other problems. The health care provider may feel your neck for lumps or swelling. To see the inside of your mouth, the health professional could use a light and a mirror. To see the inside of the throat, sometimes a small camera is placed down the throat. The camera transmits images that allow a health care provider for signs of cancer. To see the inside of the nose, a small camera can go through the nasal passages.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests make pictures of the inside of the body. The pictures can show the size and location of the cancer. The test image is used for head and neck cancer include computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scans, also called PET.

The removal of a sample of tissue for testing

A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. How the cells are collected depends on the cancer's location. If the cancer is of easy access, a health professional can cut off some of the tissue with a cutting tool. Sometimes a needle can go through the skin and into the cancer to extract some cells. Special tools may collect cells from the inside of the throat or in the nose.

Proof of the tissue sample in the laboratory

The sample of tissue taken during a biopsy is going to a lab for analysis. The tests can show whether the cells are cancerous. Other special tests to give more details on the cancer cells. For example, the cells could be tested for signs of HPV infection. Your health care team uses this information to make a treatment plan.

Treatment

Head and neck cancer treatment often involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and other medications. The treatment may depend on the location of the cancer. Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate in the mouth, the throat, sinuses, and salivary glands.

Surgery

When possible, surgeons use cutting tools to cut all of the cancer. They also have a small amount of healthy tissue around the tumor. This margin of healthy tissue helps to ensure that all cancer cells are removed.

Sometimes, the cancer grows into nearby structures and may not be withdrawn. Treatment may begin with other options, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Some operations for cancer of the head and neck can affect your ability to eat and speak. Your health care team works to minimize this risk. Reconstructive surgery can help to replace the bone and the tissue that is removed during an operation. Specialists in rehabilitation can help you regain the ability to speak and eat.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your body.

The radiation may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that are left. If surgery is not an option, the treatment can begin with the radiation in its place.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Chemotherapy is sometimes used at the same time as radiation therapy. When used at the same time, the chemotherapy helps to radiation therapy work better. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be used to control the cancer.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For head and neck cancer, targeted therapy may be used when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells. Could be an option for head and neck cancer that spreads to other parts of the body.

Palliative care

Palliative care is a special type of health care that helps you feel better when you have a serious illness. If you have cancer, palliative care can help relieve the pain and other symptoms. Palliative care is performed by a team of health professionals. This may include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Your goal is to improve the quality of life for you and your family.

Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your health care team to help you to feel better. They provide an extra layer of support, while you have cancer treatment. You can have palliative care at the same time so strong cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Ask your health care team if palliative care is right for you.

When palliative care is used along with all other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies provide an opportunity to test the latest treatments. The risk of side effects may not be known. Ask your health care professional if you might be able to be in a clinical trial.

Coping and support

People facing a serious illness such as cancer, often say that they feel scared and worried about the future. With time, you will find ways to cope with your feelings, but you can find solace in these strategies:

Ask questions about your cancer

Write down questions you have about your cancer. Ask these questions at your next appointment. Also ask your health care team by reliable sources where you can get more information. You can help to bring someone with you to your appointments to help you to remember all information that you receive.

To know more about cancer and their treatment options can make you feel more comfortable when making decisions about your care.

Stay connected with friends and family

Your cancer diagnosis can be stressful for friends and family also. Try to keep your involvement in your life.

Your friends and family will probably ask if there is anything I can do to help you. Think about the tasks that you would like to help, such as taking care of your house if you have to stay in the hospital, or simply listen to when you want to talk.

Find someone to talk to

Find someone you can talk with a person who has experience in helping people facing a life-threatening illness. Ask your health care team to suggest a counselor or a medical social worker can talk. For support groups, contact the American Cancer Society or ask your health care team about local or online groups.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

If you could have cancer of the head and neck, you may be referred to:

  • A doctor who specializes in diseases of the face, mouth, teeth, jaws, salivary glands and neck. This doctor is called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
  • A doctor that specializes in diseases that affect the ears, nose, and throat. This doctor is called to a specialist in otolaryngology. Another term for this type of doctor is an otolaryngologist.

Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet before a test.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking and the dose.
  • Have a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.

Your time with your health care team is limited, so preparing a list of questions to help you make the most of your time together. List the three most important questions first so that you can be sure to ask before the time runs out. List the rest of your questions from most important to least important. Some basic questions to ask include:

  • What type of cancer do I have?
  • What other tests do I need?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • What could happen if I decide that I don't want the treatment?
  • There is a treatment that is best for my type and stage of the cancer?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • Should I seek a second opinion? Can you give Me the names of the experts recommend?
  • Am I eligible for the clinical trials?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What is going to determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions about your symptoms and your health, such as:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of cancers of the Head and neck