Head and Neck Cancer
This is a general term for a group of different types of cancer and includes cancers of the eye, nose and sinuses, thyroid throat, larynx (voice box) and salivary glands and mouth and cheeks. Head and neck cancers are relatively rare with around 13,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year.
- Oesophageal cancer and brain tumours are not classified as head and neck cancer.
Risk Factors
Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol are the main risk factors for head and neck cancer. In fact, as much as 75% of head and neck cancers are attributed to tobacco or alcohol use. There are also other risk factors which include your sex, age and if you are infected with a particular virus. Your consultant will advise on this. Other risk factors include: diet, exposure to sunlight over prolonged periods, exposure to certain chemicals/dust, and possibly family history.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Swelling or lump in face, mouth or neck
- Voice change (e.g. hoarse voice)
- Constant sore throat and earache on one side
- Swallowing difficulty
- Mouth ulcer that doesn’t heal
- Prolonged red or white patches in the mouth
Less common symptoms are:
- A loose tooth, nosebleeds/blocked nose, numbness or pain in face and upper jaw.
Note
The above symptoms can be caused by other conditions than head and neck cancer so it’s important to have it checked out by Sheffield Dermatology.
