Head and Neck Cancers (Surgical Oncology)

Acute

What is Head and Neck Cancers?

Head and neck cancer symptoms may include a lump in the neck or a sore in the mouth or the throat that does not heal and may be painful, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty in swallowing, and a change or hoarseness in the voice. These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious conditions.

  • Red or white patch in the mouth.
  • Persistent sore throat.
  • Hoarseness or change in voice.
  • Foul mouth odor not explained by hygiene.
  • Lump, bump, or mass in the head or neck area, with or without pain.
  • Swelling or a sore that does not heal; this is the most common symptom.

Common oral complications of head and neck cancer radiation therapy: mucositis, infections, saliva change, fibrosis, sensory dysfunctions, dental caries, periodontal disease, and osteoradionecrosis.

Alcohol and tobacco are major risk factors for cancers of the head and neck. All tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff, or a type of chewing tobacco called betel quid) are linked to head and neck cancer (except for salivary gland cancers).

  • Don't smoke.
  • Don't use smokeless tobacco products.
  • Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
  • Talk to your doctor about HPV vaccination.
  • Use condoms and dental dams consistently and correctly during oral sex to lower the chances of giving or getting HPV.

Head and neck cancer is common in several regions of the world. The primary risk factors associated with head and neck cancer include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (for oropharyngeal cancer), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (for nasopharyngeal cancer).

How is it treated?

advanced-stage cancer, radiation therapy is frequently used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or damage cancer cells. For head and neck cancers, it is usually used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy, or both.

  • Surgery: Surgeons may remove the tumor and a margin of surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Radiation therapy: The most common form of radiation for head and neck cancers uses a machine that directs high-energy X-rays toward your tumor (EBRT).

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