Head & Neck Cancer

Cancer Statistics

Global Statistics

Approximately 900,000 head and neck cancer cases are accounted for annually across the globe with over 400,000 deaths.

Indian Statistics

Approximately 200,000 head and neck cancer cases are reported in India which includes over 40% cases of oral cancer. It accounts for 30% of all cancers in the country.

What is Head & Neck Cancer & What Causes it?

Head and neck cancer is a broad group of cancer starting in or near the head and neck region including the throat, voice box, nose, sinuses, or mouth.

Most head and neck cancers form in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat termed the squamous cells. These cancerous squamous cells, if untreated can spread the other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and lungs.

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Types of Head & Neck Cancer

There are several types of head and neck cancer, depending on the starting point. Some of them are mentioned below:

Esthesioneuroblastoma

Lip cancer

Mouth cancer

Nasal & paranasal tumors

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Pituitary tumors

Salivary gland tumors

Skin cancer

Soft palate cancer

Throat cancer

Thyroid cancer

Tongue cancer

Tonsil cancer

What are the Risk Factors?

Chewing tobacco, using snuff, smoking, secondhand smoke (smoke from other people’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes), and drinking alcohol are a few habits that can cause head and neck cancer. Tobacco is said to be the biggest cause of head and neck cancer.

Some of the other risk factors include:

• Getting too much sun
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Epstein-Barr virus
• Unhealthy mouth & teeth
• Breathing in asbestos, wood dust, paint, or other chemical fumes
• Smoking pot
• Vitamin A or B deficiency
• Acid reflux
• Poor immune system

Disclaimer:Having one or all of the below listed factors, does not necessarily mean it is Cancer. Get in touch with our Cancer Expert today to know more.

It can happen to anyone but people older than 40 years of age are at high risk. Also, males are at higher risk than females.

Stages of Head & Neck Cancer

Staging of head and neck cancer is done to determine its spread and advancement. There are five stages, including:

• Stage 0: Also termed carcinoma in situ, stage 0 often reflects the beginning of cancer. It only describes the ability of the abnormal cells in the affected area to become cancerous.
• Stage I: It is used to describe a very early stage of cancer. At this stage, the tumor is usually not more than two centimetres and does not affect the lymph nodes.
• Stage II: At this stage, the tumor size increases from two centimetres but is not more than four centimetres. At this stage, the lymph nodes are not affected.
• Stage III: At this stage, the tumor size is larger than four centimetres. It can also start affecting the lymph nodes.
• Stage IV: This is the most advanced stage where the tumor size is large and has also spread in the nearby tissue or other areas of the head and neck. Lymph nodes are also affected along with the lungs.

Usually, patients get diagnosed when cancer has reached stage IV. Stage IV head & neck cancers are recurrent and patients may experience regional recurrence (original location of development), regional relapse (in the lymph nodes), or distant recurrence (in another part of the body). Stage III cancer can also recur compared to stage I or II.

Signs and Symptoms of Head & Neck Cancer

Symptoms may vary depending upon the location of cancer and its acceleration speed, however, a few common signs include:

• A mass in the nose, neck or throat, with or without pain
• A continuous sore throat
• Problem swallowing (dysphagia)
• Sudden weight loss
• Persistent coughing
• Change in voice or hoarseness
• Ear pain or trouble hearing
• Headaches
• A red or white patch in the mouth
• Bad breath not related to hygiene
• Constant nasal obstruction or congestion
• Recurrent nose bleeds or unusual discharge
• Trouble breathing

Diagnosis of Head & Neck Cancer

The diagnosis of head or neck cancer is done with the help of a physical examination and

Blood tests

Pee tests

HPV test

Endoscopy

Biopsy

Imaging tests like CT scans and X-rays

Imaging tests like CT scans and X-rays

Sometimes, more than one test can be prescribed for accurate analysis of the location, advancement and stage of cancer.

Treatment of Head & Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer can be treated using

Surgery

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy

Targeted therapy

Immunotherapy

Treatment of cancer depends upon its location, acceleration speed, stage, individual’s health, age and medical history. Sometimes patients may receive a combination of treatments.

What's New in Head & Neck Cancer Research?

Research is aimed to learn more about cancer and find better ways to prevent it, treat it, and provide the best care.

Three new developments in head and neck cancer research include:

1. Gene therapy can be the new promising treatment of head and neck cancer. This therapy is a targeted treatment that uses biological gene manipulation to treat cancer.
2. Photodynamic therapy is another area of research. In photodynamic therapy, a light-sensitive substance is injected into the tumor. Cancer cells are then destroyed using a laser.
3. Proton therapy is an emerging area of research for treating nasopharyngeal cancer, chordoma, or chondrosarcoma. It can be a promising treatment because of its ability to minimize the damage done to healthy tissue. Proton therapy may help protect vital head structures such as the brain stem and the optic nerves.

FAQs

Reference

1. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/diagnosis/staging
2. https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet
3. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidemiology-and-risk-factors-for-head-and-neck-cancer
4. https://fhno.org/blog/Head-And-Neck-Cancers-in India#:~:text=Over%20200%2C000%20cases%20of%20HNC,of%20these%20are%20oral%20cancers
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14458-head-and-neck-cancer
6. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer/latest-research