Head & Neck Cancers
Cancer of the head and neck affects the moist tissues that line our organs and body cavities, such as the throat, voice box and mouth.
Smoking tobacco products is the number one cause of most head and neck cancers. Dangerous byproducts in tobacco can damage our cells, which can then multiply out of control and cause cancer. If you smoke and drink alcohol excessively, you are at even greater risk of developing head or neck cancer, especially cancer of the throat, mouth or voice box.
Other common sites for head and neck cancers are the sinuses, the nose and the salivary glands. This group of cancers represents less than 5% of cancers in the U.S., affecting less than 40,000 Americans each year. See your doctor if you feel any numbness in your face, have a lump in your neck, mouth or jaw, have difficulty swallowing, or develop hoarseness in your voice.
Recently Answered
- Q What diet do I need to take if I have esopharyngeal cancer?
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With esophageal cancer, close monitoring by a registered dietitian board certified in oncology nutrition is crucial. Depending on the individual treatment plan, there are many symptoms that can affect one's ability to eat or drink enough calories... Full Answer
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- Q What are common misconceptions of head and neck cancers?
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The most common misconception of cancer is that if you have it, you're going to die. In this video, Eric Genden, MD, an otolaryngologist at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, says that idea just doesn't apply anymore. Full Answer
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- Q What is the most common head and neck cancer?
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Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is the most common head and neck cancer in the United States. This tumor is located in the larynx (voice box), which is a tube-like structure in the neck at the top of the trachea (windpipe). The larynx contains the... Full Answer
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- Q How does oropharyngeal cancer affect the body?
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The symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer depend on the location of the cancer within the oropharynx. If your cancer involves the base of your tongue, for instance, you may have difficulty moving your tongue. Also, the muscle that you use to chew may tighten... Full Answer
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- Q How can head and neck cancer be prevented?
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The following are preventive measures for head and neck cancer: Quit smoking. Limit alcohol intake to two or fewer drinks per day. Improve your diet by eating the following: five fruits and vegetables each day whole grains, breads, cereals, pastas,... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?
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Symptoms vary with head and neck cancer, primarily because there are different types of the disease. Some of the most common warning signs of head and neck cancer include: a persistent and unexplained lump or sore in the mouth, nose, or neck a... Full Answer
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- Q What are head and neck cancers?
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The oral cavity includes your lips, cheek lining, gums, front part of your tongue, floor of the mouth beneath the tongue and the hard palate that makes up the roof of your mouth. The throat (pharynx) starts at the soft part of the roof of your mouth and... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of neuroblastoma?
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The signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma depend on where the cancer is at in your body. If the cancer is in your stomach area, you will probably have stomach pain, fullness, lumps and growths, incontinence, and leg swelling. If the cancer is in the chest,... Full Answer
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- Q What are the stages of oropharyngeal cancer?
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Stage 0 cancer, also called carcinoma in situ, has not invaded any local tissue (Tis N0 M0). Stage I cancer is restricted to the oropharynx and the primary tumor is smaller than two centimeters (T1 N0 M0). Stage II cancer is also restricted to the... Full Answer
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- Q How is oropharyngeal cancer diagnosed?
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When diagnosing oropharyngeal cancer, the doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical exam with attention to the head, neck, mouth, and throat. During the exam, the doctor may use a small mirror with a long handle to better see the inside... Full Answer
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