Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 to 5 percent of all cancers
in the United States. These cancers are more common in men and in people over
age 50. It is estimated that about 39,000 men and women in this country will
develop head and neck cancer in 2005.
What causes head and neck cancers?
Tobacco (including smokeless tobacco, sometimes called "chewing tobacco" or
"snuff") and alcohol use are the most important risk factors for head and neck
cancers, particularly those of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and
larynx. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use.
People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these
cancers than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone.
Other risk factors for cancers of the head and neck include the following:
Salivary glands. Radiation to the head and neck. This exposure can come
from diagnostic x-rays or from radiation therapy for noncancerous conditions or
cancer.
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Certain industrial exposures, such as
wood or nickel dust inhalation. Tobacco and alcohol use may play less of a role
in this type of cancer.
Nasopharynx. Asian, particularly Chinese, ancestry; Epstein-Barr virus
infection; occupational exposure to wood dust; and consumption of certain
preservatives or salted foods.
Oropharynx. Poor oral hygiene; HPV infection and the use of mouthwash that
has a high alcohol content are possible, but not proven, risk factors.
Hypopharynx. Plummer-Vinson (also called Paterson-Kelly) syndrome, a rare
disorder that results from iron and other nutritional deficiencies. This
syndrome is characterized by severe anemia and leads to difficulty swallowing
due to webs of tissue that grow across the upper part of the esophagus.
Larynx. Exposure to airborne particles of asbestos, especially in the
workplace.
Immigrants from Southeast Asia who use paan (betel quid) in the mouth should
be aware that this habit has been strongly associated with an increased risk for
oral cancer. Also, consumption of mate, a tea-like beverage habitually consumed
by South Americans, has been associated with an increased risk of cancers of the
mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx.
People who are at risk for head and neck cancers should talk with their
doctor about ways they can reduce their risk. They should also discuss how often
to have checkups.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses or mechanical causes (such as mouth breathing) and can be treated successfully at home. However, a person should be seen by a health care professional if they have a sore throat that has a rapid onset, and is associated with a fever or tenderness of the front of the neck; a sore throat that causes the person to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain swallowing) or breathing; or if a sore throat lasts for more than a week.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
The term oral cancer includes cancer of the mouth (oral cavity) and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). Red and white patches inside the mouth, bleeding, loose teeth, pain upon swallowing, a lump in the neck, earache, and a sore on your lip or in your mouth that won't heal are all symptoms of oral cancer. Treatment for oral cancer depends upon the staging of the disease and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. HPV is primarily transmitted by sexual contact. While some people develop warts in the genital region after infection, others experience no symptoms. Though genital warts can be removed, there is no cure for HPV infection. There is a vaccine to prevent infection from four common HPV types.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Symptoms of cancer of the larynx, the organ at the front of the neck, include hoarseness, a lump in the neck, sore throat, cough, problems breathing, bad breath, earache, and weight loss. Treatment for larynx cancer depends on the stage (the extent) of the disease. Radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy are all forms of treatment for laryngeal cancer.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Hoarseness (abnormal deep, harsh, raspy voice) is caused by a variety of conditions in which the larynx (voice box and vocal chords) are irritated or injured. Examples of causes of hoarseness include: laryngitis, straining the vocal cords by yelling or screaming, infections, GERD, allergies, and more. Treatment of hoarseness depends on the cause.
Salivary gland cancer is cancer that affects the parotid glands, sublingual glands, or the submandibular glands. Risk factors include older age, radiation therapy treatment to head or neck, and being exposed to certain substances at work. Signs include fluid draining from the ear, pain, numbness, weakness, trouble swallowing, and a lump. Treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or radiosensitizers.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is a form of cancer in which malignant cells form in the nasopharynx tissues. Risk factors include being of Chinese or Asian ancestry and exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms and signs of nasopharyngeal cancer include a sore throat, a lump in the neck or nose, trouble hearing, nosebleeds, headaches, and trouble hearing, breathing, or speaking. Treatment depends upon the stage of the cancer, the tumor size, the type of cancer, and the patient's health and age.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
The most common taste disorder is phantom taste perception; that is, a lingering, often unpleasant taste even though you have nothing in your mouth. We also can experience a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami, a condition called hypogeusia. Some people cannot detect any tastes, which is called ageusia.
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