What are common symptoms of head and neck cancers?
Symptoms of several head and neck cancer sites include a lump or sore that
does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, and a
change or hoarseness in the voice. Other symptoms may include the following:
Oral cavity. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the
mouth; a swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become
uncomfortable; and unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.
Nasal cavity and sinuses. Sinuses that are blocked and do not clear,
chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics,
bleeding through the nose, frequent headaches, swelling or other trouble with
the eyes, pain in the upper teeth, or problems with dentures.
Salivary glands. Swelling under the chin or around the jawbone; numbness or
paralysis of the muscles in the face; or pain that does not go away in the face,
chin, or neck.
Oropharynx and hypopharynx. Ear pain.
Nasopharynx. Trouble breathing or speaking, frequent headaches, pain or
ringing in the ears, or trouble hearing.
Larynx. Pain when swallowing, or ear pain.
Metastatic squamous neck cancer. Pain in the neck or throat that does not
go away.
These symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious conditions.
It is important to check with a doctor or dentist about any of these symptoms.
How are head and neck cancers diagnosed?
To find the cause of symptoms, a doctor evaluates a person's medical history,
performs a physical examination, and orders diagnostic tests. The exams and
tests conducted may vary depending on the symptoms. Examination of a sample of
tissue under the microscope is always necessary to confirm a diagnosis of
cancer.
Some exams and tests that may be useful are described below:
Physical examination may include visual inspection of the oral and nasal
cavities, neck, throat, and tongue using a small mirror and/or lights. The
doctor may also feel for lumps on the neck, lips, gums, and cheeks.
Endoscopy is the use of a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope to examine
areas inside the body. The type of endoscope the doctor uses depends on the area
being examined. For example, a laryngoscope is inserted through the mouth to
view the larynx; an esophagoscope is inserted through the mouth to examine the
esophagus; and a nasopharyngoscope is inserted through the nose so the doctor
can see the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.
Laboratory tests examine samples of blood, urine, or other substances from
the body.
X-rays create images of areas inside the head and neck on film.
CT (or CAT) scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the head
and neck created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
Magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) uses a powerful magnet linked to a
computer to create detailed pictures of areas inside the head and neck.
PET scan uses sugar that is modified in a specific way so it is absorbed by
cancer calls and appears as dark areas on the scan.
Biopsy is the removal of tissue. A pathologist studies the tissue under a
microscope to make a diagnosis. A biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether a
person has cancer.
If the diagnosis is cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or
extent) of disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer
has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Staging may involve an
examination under anesthesia (in the operating room), x-rays and other imaging
procedures, and laboratory tests. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the
doctor plan treatment.
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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