Any cancers that grow in the head and neck regions are considered head and neck cancers. This includes areas like your mouth, throat, sinuses and salivary glands.
There are five main types of head and neck cancer. Depending on which areas are affected, you may be diagnosed with:
When cells begin to grow uncontrollably in the mouth or surrounding areas, you could be diagnosed with oral cancer. It can start anywhere in the oral cavity, which includes the lips, gums, tongue, inner lining of the cheeks, roof of the mouth or floor of the mouth.
Risk factors for oral cancer include:
The most common sign of oral cancer is a sore or lump in the mouth. Other symptoms include:
Since these can also be indicators of other conditions, check with your primary care provider so they can determine the cause.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the cancer, as well as lymph nodes or other tissues around the cancer. Your treatment plan could also include reconstructive surgery to restore the appearance of affected areas.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
Throat cancer is classified in three different ways – nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal – depending on which area in the throat the cancer appears.Nasopharyngeal cancer starts in the upper part of the throat, behind the nose. Oropharyngeal cancer begins in the middle part of the throat behind the mouth. Hypopharyngeal cancer begins in the bottom part of the throat behind the voice box.
Although these three cancers are different, they have similar risk factors, symptoms and treatment plans
Risk factors for throat cancer include:
Some signs and symptoms of throat cancer include:
If you think you may have throat cancer, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the cancer, as well as lymph nodes or other tissues around the cancer.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
Immunotherapy helps your body create more immune cells, which find and kill cancer cells.
Nasal cancer forms in your nasal cavity, the area directly behind your nose. Very nearby are the paranasal sinuses, a system of hollow spaces in your skull that connect to the nasal cavity and help condition the air you breathe in, contribute to vocal resonance and protect against infections. Cancer that begins there is called paranasal sinus cancer or sinus cancer.
Some factors put you at a higher risk of developing nasal and sinus cancer, including:
Some signs of nasal and sinus cancer include:
If you experience these symptoms and are concerned it could be cancer, talk to your primary care provider right away.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the tumor, as well as some of the surrounding tissue if needed.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
The larynx is a part of the throat between the base of the tongue and the trachea. It contains the vocal cords, which vibrate and make sound when air is directed against them to make a person’s voice. When cells begin to grow uncontrollably in this area, tumors can form, and you may be diagnosed with laryngeal cancer.
Many factors can determine the likelihood of developing laryngeal cancer, including:
Some signs and symptoms of laryngeal cancer include:
Since these can also be indicators of other conditions, check with your primary care provider so they can determine the cause.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the tumor, as well as some of the surrounding tissue if needed.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Radiosensitizers make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
The salivary glands in your mouth are responsible for creating saliva, which aids in digestion and helps maintain oral health. If cells on the glands begin to grow uncontrollably, they could form a cancerous tumor. Salivary gland cancer is rare.
Many factors can determine the likelihood of developing salivary gland cancer, including:
It’s possible to show no signs of salivary gland cancer, but most people develop a painless lump on the gland.
Other symptoms of salivary gland cancer include:
If you think you may have salivary gland cancer, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider.
Surgery allows doctors to remove the tumor, as well as some of the surrounding tissue if needed.
Radiation therapy targets abnormal cells with radiation, which damages them and keeps them from reproducing.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells to slow down their growth and eliminate the disease.
Immunotherapy helps your body create more immune cells, which find and kill cancer cells.
Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Radiosensitizers make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
