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.
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.
Head & Neck cancer cases are likely to double by the year 2030. India accounts for 60% of world’s head & neck cancer cases. India is also the third largest tobacco user across the world. As per the WHO, tobacco kills more than 10 lakh people in the country, each year.
Currently, there are over 26.6 crore tobacco users in India and a substantial number of passive smokers. All forms of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, hookah, gutkha and khaini are common agents for causing oral cancer.
Tobacco use impacts almost every major organ and system in the body causing untimely death. More than 4,000 different types of chemicals have been found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Over 60 of these chemicals have been classified as cancer causing agents by International Agency on Research in Cancer.
Organs like the mouth, throat, larynx are affected by smoking tobacco. Cancer develops where there is an uncontrolled multiplication of cells of the body.
Harmful chemicals of tobacco cause these cells to grow uncontrollably and may lead to cancer. Other risk factors for head & neck cancer are HPV infections, poor oral hygiene, weak immune system, vitamin A and B deficiencies.
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 different types of head & neck cancer are cancer of the pharynx, larynx, nasal and paranasal sinus, oral cavity and salivary glands.
Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy targeted therapy or immunotherapy. In early stages, surgery is the first treatment choice. In advanced stages, chemo-radiation or targeted therapy plus radiation may be considered.
The article is written by Dr. Minish Jain, Director of Medical Oncology at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune
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.
