Head and Neck Cancer General Information
There are multiple risk factors for head and neck cancers. However the most common risks include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, HPV exposure, a family history of cancer, and exposure to radiation.
Risk Factors for Head & Neck Cancers
Signs and Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancers
The following list of symptoms may help guide you regarding the possible existence of a Head & Neck Cancer. This list does not necessarily list ALL of the symptoms of these types of cancer. Rather, it is meant to discuss the most common signs and symptoms of Head & Neck cancers.
NECK MASS
Head & Neck Cancers can present in a number of ways. The most common sign of a possible Head & Neck cancer is a lump (mass) in the neck but most neck masses are bening. In children most neck masses are due to an infection. However, in adults as high as 50% of all neck masses could potentially be cancer. Your physician or a Head & Neck cancer surgeon should evaluate any mass (lump) in the neck. Antibiotics may be used as the first line treatment. However, any neck mass that does not go away within 10 to 14 days should be biopsied.
SWALLOWING PROBLEMS
Difficulty swallowing can occur as we age, but in younger patients it can be a sign of cancer. A cancer deep in the throat will often be detected when a patient has trouble swallowing. Difficulty swallowing can also be caused by many other issues, including problems with motility, weakness (such as after a stroke) or anatomical changes in the esophagus itself. Tongue cancers will also cause swallowing problems. Examination of the deep areas of the throat and tongue is usually done by an ENT surgeon.
PAIN
Persistent pain in the mouth, throat, neck or even ear may be a sign of cancer. Usually cancer is painless at its earliest stages. As a cancer enlarges it may affect the surrounding nerves resulting in pain. The cancer will often be visible by the time pain is occurring. Pain indicates a more advanced stage of the cancer if that is its cause. Therefore it is crucial that treatment be rendered in a timely manner. At Berks ENT Surgical Associates, cancer is given high priority and treatment is started as soon as possible after diagnosis.
HOARSENESS/VOICE CHANGE
Hoarseness or any change in the voice quality should be considered a possible warning sign of cancer. Hoarseness is often one of the earliest signs of cancer of the larynx (voice box). The important point is that larynx cancer is extremely curable when it is caught early. It does NOT mean you will lose your larynx. Organ sparing treatments have been developed that frequently allow you to achieve successful treatment with minimal or no surgery.
Hoarseness or any change in voice that is present for more than a week should be evaluated by a physician who is capable of examining the larynx, throat, and tongue in detail. Tongue and throat cancers can also affect the quality of your speech. The physicians who examine and treat these areas are Otolaryngologists (ENT surgeons). All of the physicians at Berks ENT Surgical Associates are highly skilled in this form of examination.
PERSISTENT SORE IN THE MOUTH OR THROAT
Any sore in the mouth or throat that does not heal within 2 weeks may be a cancer and should be examined by your physician. If your doctor is concerned about the possibility of cancer a referral to an ENT surgeon is often recommended. Examination by an ENT surgeon with experience in dealing with Head & Neck cancers will help clarify the source of the sore. A biopsy may be necessary to diagnose or rule out cancer. Any delay in treating these kinds of lesions can result in a need for more extensive treatment if cancer is diagnosed. Treatment when the cancer is at an early stage is extremely beneficial.
WEIGHT LOSS
When Head & Neck cancers are advanced, they will usually lead to difficulty swallowing and loss of appetite. These 2 factors usually result in rapid weight loss. Any unintentional weight loss greater than 5 pounds in a given month should be considered a possible sign of cancer. If combined with any of the previously described signs of Head & Neck cancer, a thorough examination by an ENT specialist should be performed.
Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers
The treatment of any cancer of the Head & Neck region will usually involve consideration of 3 different types of treatment; surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.