Global Burden of Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers are quite common and along with this cancer of the tongue, mouth, larynx, throat and lips are also included. Squamous cell carcinomas are known to cause cancer and this type of cells is found highest in smokers. Though cancer of the neck and head are rarely found in case of nonsmokers.

What are the signs and symptoms of neck and head cancer?

Some of the common signs are unexplained change in your voice, loss of weight, difficulty in swallowing and soreness of the tongue, lips and the cheek without any signs of healing in spite of medications.

On what bases is the diagnosis made?

Biopsy is performed with the help of an ENT surgeon to diagnose cancer of the neck and head. Most of the time it has been noticed that the tumor spreads to the lymph nodes and in some extreme cases cancer spreads beyond the neck area when this occurs it is controlled by therapeutic measures administered in the affected area.

What is the mode of treatment?

Surgery is the most resorted treatment after the biopsy is performed to detect cancer of the neck and head.  Until the diagnosis is not made radiation is the initial mode of treatment. Recent research has proved that chemotherapy has shown a better improvable rates to cure this cancer when it is administered as a combination therapy i.e. radiation along with chemotherapy. In case the disease has spread and cannot be controlled with radiation or surgery then palliative chemotherapy is administered though this is a rare occurrence.

What are the risk factors that can cause cancer of the neck and head?

Listed below is some of the reason for the development of neck and head cancer and they are:

1. Addicted to smoking or smokers are at a high risk of developing this cancer
2. Addiction to chewing tobacco is yet another reason for the development of this cancer
3. Alcoholics are also prone to a high risk of developing this cancer
4. Nutrition plays an important role and if follow a poor diet then you are at a risk of developing head and neck cancer.
5. Oral sex also leads to cancer of the neck and head.

Though the main reason for the development of head and neck cancer has been citied to tobacco and smoking studies have shown that HPV virus or human papillamavirus virus which is transmitted through oral sex also leads to head and neck cancer as this causes tongue cancer especially if you have sex with multiple partners where health and hygiene are not of high concern.

Like most other cancers this cancer is also known to affect older people. Over exposure to sunlight can also lead to the cancer of the neck and head. Breathing in chemicals or inhaling certain chemical smokes can also lead to cancer of the nose which passes on to your lungs etc.

The best way to prevent the development of head and neck cancer is firstly to give up on smoking, drinking and taking care of your diet along with protecting yourself by covering yourself with protective gear when venturing out into the sun.