Symptoms of Head & Neck Cancer
What are Head and Neck Cancers?
Cancer of any type occurs when abnormal cells grow in an inappropriate and aggressive fashion. Cancers are typically named after the sites in which they originate. Head and neck cancers are mostly found in the mouth or throat, and can potentially spread to the neck and other areas. Cancers detected in any of the following are considered head and neck cancers:
Oral cavity: includes the lips, the front two-thirds of the tongue, the gingiva (gums), the buccal mucosa (lining inside the cheeks and lips), the floor (bottom) of the mouth under the tongue, the hard palate (bony top of the mouth), and the small area behind the wisdom teeth
Salivary glands: produce saliva, the fluid that keeps mucosal surfaces in the mouth and throat moist
Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: small hollow spaces in the bones of the head surrounding the nose; the nasal cavity is the hollow space inside the nose
Pharynx: a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and leads to the esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach) and the trachea (the tube that goes to the lungs). The pharynx has three parts: nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx
Larynx: also called the voicebox; a short passageway formed by cartilage just below the pharynx in the neck. The larynx contains the vocal cords and a small piece of tissue called the epiglottis, which moves to cover the larynx to prevent food from entering the air passages
Lymph nodes in the upper part of the neck: cancer cells are sometimes found in the lymph nodes of the upper neck when there is no evidence of cancer in other parts of the head and neck; this is called metastatic squamous neck cancer with unknown (occult) primary
Cancers of the brain, eye, and thyroid as well as those of the scalp, skin, muscles, and bones of the head and neck are not usually grouped with cancers of the head and neck.
Symptoms of head and neck cancer
Symptoms of several head and neck cancer sites can include a lump or sore that does not heal or a sore throat that does not go away. Other symptoms may include the following:
The following can be, but are not necessarily, symptoms of head and neck cancer:
- a lump in the neck
- change in the voice
- a growth in the mouth
- blood in the saliva
- difficulty swallowing
- changes in the skin
- persistent earache
It's important to consult your doctor about any of these signs. In addition, your doctor, dentist, or oral surgeon may detect early signs of head and neck cancer, so it's also important to maintain regular medical checkups.
