Infection with HPV, overexposure to UV rays, and advancing age are the other risk factors.
Infection with HPV, overexposure to UV rays, and advancing age are the other risk factors.
More than 2 lakh people are diagnosed with head and neck every year in India, making it the 2nd most common cancer in the country.
Head and neck cancers include cancers of the mouth and throat and some rarer cancers. These include cancer of the sinuses (air spaces in the bones of the face), the salivary glands, nose, or middle ear.
Mouth cancer develops in the lip, tongue, or anywhere inside the mouth. Throat cancer develops in the larynx and pharynx. Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell cancers, which start in the cells lining the mouth, nose, and throat.
Excessive consumption of tobacco and alcohol, infection with HPV, overexposure to UV rays, and advancing age are the major risk factors.
A lump or a sore that does not heal or go away, a persistent sore throat, frequent coughing, a red or white patch in the mouth, difficulty in swallowing, trouble breathing, change or hoarseness of the voice, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss are the symptoms.
Head and neck cancers can be targeted with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Surgery is often the first-line treatment option for head and neck cancers. Radiation therapy delivers high doses of radiation to cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy is typically reserved for patients whose cancer has metastasized to the bones or elsewhere in the body.
Targeted therapy helps in attacking specific proteins and preventing cancer cells from dividing or destroying them directly. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a potential target in head and neck cancer, and is a protein found on the surface of many types of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy drugs have been designed to help the body’s immune system identify and kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy may not be used to treat all patients, and responses to the treatment may vary.
This article has been written by Dr.Avinash CB, Consultant Medical Oncologist, ClearMedi Radiant Hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka.
It encompasses cancers of the oral cavity, tongue, tonsils, oropharynx, and larynx.
The introduction of the newer modalities of systemic treatment has made impact in better survival outcomes.
Symptoms of head & neck cancer include blood in phlegm, lump in the neck, skin changes, change in voice, difficulty in swallowing and a sore that does not heal.
The use of radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy has been demonstrated to yield more positive results over just use of radiotherapy alone.
People consuming tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk of developing this cancer
Multi-disciplinary approach with new surgical and radiation techniques, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy can help in reducing morbidity rates.
It can be prevented by making changes in lifestyle
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. There are approximately 650,000 cases and 200,000 deaths from this disease every year.
Keep an eye out for the symptoms and visit a physician as early as possible.
One of the major causes of the disease is tobacco use.
Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are the treatment options.
Head and neck cancer collectively refers to cancers of the oral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses.
Of the 10 lakh cases of cancer detected in the country every year, around 2 lakh are cancers of the head and neck, says oncologist.
The country has one of the highest rates of oral cancer in the world due to tobacco use, and the rates are still increasing.
Infection with HPV, overexposure to UV rays, and advancing age are the other risk factors.
According to oncologist, a lump in the neck can be the first sign.
Usage of tobacco and alcohol is associated with a high risk of developing head and neck cancer.
Alcohol and tobacco addiction are the most common causes.
Tobacco and alcohol are the main causes. People who use both tobacco and alcohol are at a greater risk than those who use only one or the other.
According to expert, the above is a symptom of head and neck cancer.
Oncologist remembers the case of a 30-something man who was diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
Persistent mouth ulcers and a lump in the throat are the major symptoms.
The combined consumption of alcohol and tobacco reportedly increases the risk of head and mouth cancer by 15 times.
These cancers affect more men than women. For men alone, there were 92,000 new cases of throat and tongue cancer last year.
These cancers are caused due to tobacco use. Excessive consumption of alcohol, advancing age, and Human Papilloma Virus infection are the other contributory factors.
The other risk factors include consumption of alcohol and infection with Human Papilloma Virus.
Cancers developing in or around the mouth, pharynx, larynx, nose, or sinuses are broadly referred to as head and neck cancer.
