Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, throat, and voice box. They affect the organs of speaking, breathing, and eating which are crucial areas of the body. Being informed about these different types of cancers can make the difference in your head and neck health.
Physicians take great care with these types of cancer and form individualized treatment options for their patients. Keeping up with your head and neck health can assist your doctor in spotting signs and symptoms early on.
Here you’ll learn about head and neck cancers and become aware of the signs and symptoms of them. Topics include:
- Types of Head and Neck Cancers
- HPV and Head and Neck Cancer: What’s the Link?
- What Is Thyroid Cancer: Know the Facts
- Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: New Approaches
- Salivary glands - These glands are located in the floor of the mouth near the jawbone
- Oral cavity - Cancers can grow in or on the lips, tongue, gums, inner lining of the cheeks, and hard palate
- Pharynx - Also known as the throat, this hollow tube is about five inches long and cancer can affect any of its three main sections
- Larynx - This passageway below the pharynx is also called the voice box and includes the vocal cords and epiglottis -- the small piece of tissue that prevents food from entering it
- Nasal cavity and sinuses - These hollow spaces are located inside and around the nose, respectively
Are You at Risk for Head and Neck Cancer?
Some head and neck cancer risk factors are unavoidable. For example, you are more likely to develop these types of cancer if you are of Asian ancestry or have been infected with Epstein-Barr or the human papilloma virus (HPV). Other risk factors aren't set in stone. The following factors can increase your risk of head and neck cancer — but are also within your control.- Alcohol and tobacco - Use of these two substances (including chewing tobacco) is the number one modifiable risk factor for many types of head and neck cancer.
- Certain foods - People who consume preserved or salted foods regularly during childhood are more likely to develop some forms of head cancer. Consumption of the tea-like beverage mate is also associated with higher risk.
- Poor oral hygiene. Missing teeth and otherwise poor oral health appear to be connected to oral cancer risk.
- Occupational exposure. People who work in jobs where they are regularly exposed to wood dust, asbestos, synthetic fibers, or formaldehyde may be at higher risk for some head and neck cancers. These include jobs in the construction, logging, textile, and metal industries.
- Radiation exposure. If you have received radiation to the head or neck, you may be at increased risk for cancer of the salivary glands.
Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms
These head and neck cancer types can have symptoms such as:- Difficulty swallowing
- Hoarse voice
- Sore throat
- Trouble breathing or speaking
- White or red patches on the gums or lining of the mouth
- Sinus or ear pain
- Swelling
Types of Head and Neck Cancer
There are several different types of cancer that can occur in your head or neck. Understanding these head and neck cancer types can help you better understand their risks, symptoms and diagnosis. Learn more about these types of cancer and how you could be at risk.Read More
- Trouble hearing, breathing, or speaking
- A lump anywhere on your head, neck, or inside your mouth
- Chewing or swallowing problems
- Feeling that something is stuck in your throat
- A sore throat that lasts longer than 7 to 10 days
- Pain or ringing in the ears
Can Vaccination Help?
The HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer in women who receive the vaccine before adulthood. Scientists developed the vaccine to work against several HPV subtypes. This includes HPV subtypes 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers. HPV subtype 16 also causes most oropharyngeal cancers, and all the available vaccines work against both subtypes. The HPV vaccine works best before a person ever has the chance to contract the HPV virus. That's why current CDC recommendations include giving the HPV vaccine to 11- and 12-year-old girls and boys. The agency says that unvaccinated people up to age 26 should receive the vaccine, but the HPV vaccine is approved for use to age 45 in the U.S. If you're an adult age 27 to 45 who has already had a high risk HPV infection, your doctor may recommend that you get vaccinated against HPV. Doing so might prevent future infections.Looking to the Future
While the HPV vaccine prevents new HPV infections, it can't treat existing infections or diseases. That means the vaccine can't help the people aged 50 or older who are most at risk for developing oropharyngeal cancer today. But thanks to vaccination, young people who receive the HPV vaccine face a much lower risk of oropharyngeal cancer. UPMC researchers continue to investigate ways to prevent HPV-associated cancers. Stay up to date on the latest developments in the field of cancer research. Visit UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to learn more." ["post_title"]=> string(46) "HPV and Head and Neck Cancer: What's the Link?" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(148) "Human papilloma virus is linked to not only cervical cancer but also head and neck cancers. Learn more about the cancer risk factors and prevention." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(24) "hpv-and-head-neck-cancer" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2021-03-08 12:28:38" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2021-03-08 17:28:38" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(31) "https://share.upmc.com/?p=68191" ["menu_order"]=> int(708) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["medical_description"]=> string(354) "Few understand that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, can not only put your at risk for cervical cancer but also oral cancer. There are more than 100 related strains of HPV, which can affect different parts of the body. Read more to learn about the three frequently asked questions about the link between oral cancer and HPV." }HPV and Head and Neck Cancer: What’s the Link?
Few understand that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, can not only put your at risk for cervical cancer but also oral cancer. There are more than 100 related strains of HPV, which can affect different parts of the body. Read more to learn about the three frequently asked questions about the link between oral cancer and HPV.Read More
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Weight
Types of Thyroid Cancer
There are four main thyroid cancer types: Papillary. The most common form of thyroid cancer, this condition occurs in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, which produce and store thyroid hormone. It typically affects women ages 20 to 40 and has a good prognosis. Follicular. This form of cancer also originates in the follicular cells. It is more likely to occur in women, particularly those over age 50, and is slightly more aggressive than papillary cancer. Medullary. A less-common type of thyroid cancer, this form occurs in cells called C cells and often has a genetic component. Anaplastic. This rare form of cancer usually affects older adults and can grow rapidly. Many people with thyroid cancer don't experience any signs of the disease. When symptoms do occur, they can include:- Difficulty swallowing
- Neck or throat pain
- A hoarse voice
- A lump that can be felt when touching the neck
Thyroid Cancer Is A Treatable Disease
When it comes to thyroid cancer, there's good news: The majority of cases can be cured with treatment, especially if they are caught early. There are a number of treatment options available, including:- Surgery: Most people with thyroid cancer end up having some or all of their thyroid gland surgically removed. Your surgeon may also remove lymph nodes in the neck to determine whether cancer has spread. Following surgery, you must take thyroid hormone medication (such as levothyroxine) for the rest of your life.
- Radiation: Radioactive iodine therapy may be used to destroy remaining cancerous tissue following surgery or to treat cancer that has spread or recurred. It involves taking high doses of radioactive iodine in pill or liquid form. External beam radiation therapy is an option for people who can't undergo surgery, whose cancer has not responded to other treatments, of whose cancer has spread to the bones.
- Medication: If you have advanced thyroid cancer, your physician may recommend drugs that directly target cancerous cells.
What Is Thyroid Cancer: Know the Facts
The thyroid, a gland in your neck, and the conditions associated with it can affect your whole body. Thyroid cancer is becoming more common in the United States and there are four main types of the disease. The majority of cases can be cured, especially when caught early. Read more about thyroid cancer and its treatment options.Read More
Infographic: Head and Neck Cancers
With over 20,000 cases per year, head and neck cancers are not something to be overlooked. Recognizing the signs is essential in early diagnosis, which aids in successful treatment. Read more to discover the risks, symptoms, and treatment options for head and neck cancers.View Infographic
- Mouth: Mouth, or oral, cancer refers to cancer that starts anywhere within the oral cavity. This includes the gums, tongue, cheek linings, and roof or floor of the mouth.
- Throat: These cancers can affect the voice box (laryngeal cancer) or the back of the throat (oropharyngeal cancer). Cancer also can grow where your throat connects your mouth to your esophagus (hypopharyngeal cancer).
- Nose: When cancer forms at the back of the nasal cavity, doctors call it nasopharyngeal cancer.
- Sinus: With sinus cancer, tumors grow in the skull's hollow spaces near the nose.
- Salivary glands: This rare cancer can form in any of the salivary glands in the mouth, neck, or jaw.
- Thyroid: This form of cancers grows in the thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck.
What to Expect: Head and Neck Cancer Treatment
The type of treatment you receive will depend on the location of your cancer. How advanced the cancer is also plays a role, as well as how quickly it's growing. Other important factors include your overall health and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Your UPMC medical team has the full range of treatments for head and neck cancer available. These include:- Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Your team can give chemotherapy drugs by mouth, IV infusion, or injection.
- Immunotherapy boosts your body's cell-killing immune response so it can destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy comes in different forms, including vaccines and drugs that directly boost your immune system. Other forms of immunotherapy contain immune cells to fight your cancer.
- Radiation uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. Doctors often recommend radiation when they need to target a specific area within the head and neck region.
- Surgery can be used to remove the tumor. Your surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes to determine whether cancer has spread.
UPMC Experts Tailor Your Treatment
Your cancer care team will recommend personalized treatment options based on your specific circumstances. Doctors can choose to use these treatments alone or in combination based on your medical needs. For example, doctors often combine surgery and radiation therapy. The radiation targets any cancer cells that surgery didn't remove. Doctors may also combine chemotherapy with radiation to boost results. Chemo increases the tumor's sensitivity to radiation. But using multiple treatments can also increase the side effects associated with each type. Your doctor will explain the pros and cons of each treatment regimen. You and your doctor will work together to decide what's right for you. To learn more about new cancer research and treatment methods, visit UPMC Hillman Cancer Center online or contact us today." ["post_title"]=> string(46) "Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: New Approaches" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(150) "There are multiple treatment options available for patients with head and neck cancer. Find out how we determine the right treatment approach for you." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(26) "head-neck-cancer-treatment" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2021-03-10 13:31:38" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2021-03-10 18:31:38" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(31) "https://share.upmc.com/?p=68291" ["menu_order"]=> int(722) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["medical_description"]=> string(243) "A diagnosis of any type of cancer can be frightening, and forms of head or neck cancer are no exception. Thankfully, there are several treatment options for these forms of cancer. Read more about what treatment best suits your type of disease." }Head and Neck Cancer Treatment: New Approaches
A diagnosis of any type of cancer can be frightening, and forms of head or neck cancer are no exception. Thankfully, there are several treatment options for these forms of cancer. Read more about what treatment best suits your type of disease.Watch Now
