The head and neck cancers include cancers in the larynx, throat, lips, mouth and some other rare types such as the cancer of the sinuses (air spaces in the bones of the face), the nose or middle ear, or salivary glands. Mouth cancer can also develop on the lip area, the front two-thirds of the tongue, or anywhere inside the mouth. Throat cancer can also develop in different areas such as the larynx and pharynx, which is divided into three types such as nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx. Other examples include diseases of the thyroid, oesophagus (gullet) or windpipe (trachea), near to the throat.
Tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), radiation exposure, specific workplace exposures, and Epstein-Barr virus increases the risk of head and neck cancers. It is observed that more than 75% of the head and neck cancers are caused by alcohol or tobacco use.
Usually, head and neck cancers start in the mouth, nose and throat cells, and these are called squamous cell cancers. There are a small number of head and neck cancers that develop from other types of cells. The diagnosis is confirmed by tissue biopsy, and medical imaging and blood tests may determine the degree of spread. The usual age of diagnosis is between 55 and 65 years old.
Although head and neck cancer is often curable if it is diagnosed early; however, if it is diagnosed late, outcomes are typically reduced. The treatment may include a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Below are a few symptoms of head and neck cancer -
1. Pain
Head and Neck cancer can be detected by torture in various places. There would be discomfort in the mouth; sore throat or a persistent earache; pain in the cheek, behind the nose, upper teeth or any other part of the face; or a constant headache.
2. Swelling
Head and neck cancer can cause swelling in many places such as in the front of the ear, under the jawbone, in the cheek area, around the eyes or in the upper neck caused by enlarged lymph nodes. There could also be lumps or ulcers in the mouth that is extremely difficult to heal.
3. Breathing and Speaking Problems
Nasal obstruction or persistent congestion are also symptoms of head and neck cancer. It is accompanied by the bad breath that is unexplained by hygiene and louder breathing patterns. There would also be difficulty in speaking, owing to the other symptoms such as numbness of the cheek, upper lip, upper teeth; drooping on one side of the face or difficulty opening the mouth; swollen neck which affects the larynx, the voice box; loose teeth or dentures that do not fit well.
4. Bleeding
Frequent bleeding is also prevalent in head and neck cancer. There would be bleeding in the mouth and recurrent nosebleeds. Red or white patches may also develop in the mouth region.
5. Disturbed Eating
Head and neck cancer causes swelling in many places, including the neck region. Due to this, the patient would face difficulty in chewing and swallowing. Swelling in the neck leads to painful swallowing, while those in the cheek area lead to painful chewing. Another symptom is loose teeth or dentures, which also adds to the trouble in chewing. This is accompanied by drooping on one side of the face or difficulty opening the mouth and numbness in many places such as the cheek region, upper lip, upper teeth or bottom of the nose.
6. Lump in the Neck
If cancer spreads from where it originated, the first place it usually covers too are the lymph nodes in the neck. They are bean-shaped glands that are part of the lymphatic system. If cancer begins to grow in the lymph nodes, it might show up as painless lumps in the neck. Enlarged lumps may occur in the neck due to other reasons as well, but if it does not heal within 2-3 weeks, consultation must be done.
7. Unexplained Weight-loss
Difficulty in eating leads to reduced appetite, which leads to noticeable weight-loss. Apart from this, cancer causes unexplained changes in the body, which would lead to a sudden drop in the weight of the patient.
Certain risk factors come with head and neck cancer, and it is generally said that avoiding those risk factors would help in decreasing the risk of head and neck cancer. These risk factors include smoking, being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and so on. Therefore, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly might lower the risk of receiving head and neck cancer.
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