Head and neck cancers have been on the rise since the late 1900s with incidence of 900000 cases per year, leading to 400,000 death every year. In south east Asia it is one of major cause for mortality after lung breast and GI cancers.
Medical experts around the world believe that the best way to reduce the incidence of head and neck cancers is the awareness of the general public to the various risk factors, early signs, symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
What is included under Head and Neck region?
The head and neck comprise of ears, oral cavity (mouth), tongue, salivary glands, nasal cavity (nose), pharynx, larynx (voice box), thyroid gland, parathyroid glands and trachea. Tumors of these regions are notorious (easily ignored) and mostly can be malignant.
What causes these cancers?
Like every other cancer, these cancers also have an unknown etiology. But it has been recorded
that exposure to certain carcinogens and a genetic predisposition can result in the formation of tumor(s).
- Alcohol and tobacco use: are the 2 most important risk factors for head and neck cancers especially the oral cavity, hypopharynx and the voice box. The alcohol and smoked tobacco have additive to multiplicative risk when taken together.
- Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection: is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers that involve tonsils or the base of the tongue. About 3/4th of all oropharyngeal cancers are caused by chronic HPV infections.
- Paan: the use of paan in the mouth is strongly associated with and increased risk of oral cancers.
- Occupational exposure: people working in the construction, metal, textile, ceramic, and food industries have an increased risk of tumors of the larynx.
- Radiation exposure: radiation to the head and neck is an increased risk for cancers of the salivary glands.
- Epstein Barr virus infection: is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal and salivary gland tumors.
- Ancestry: Asian ancestry, particularly the Chinese, is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal tumors.
- Family history and genetics: If there is a history of head and neck tumors in a family, there is a high risk for the descendants to develop the head and neck tumors.
What are the symptoms of head and neck tumors?
- Oral cavity: a white or red patch on the gums, the tongue, or the lining of the mouth; a growth or swelling of the jaw and unusual bleeding or pain in the mouth.
- Throat (pharynx): pain when swallowing, pain in the neck or throat, pain or ringing in the ears or trouble hearing.
- Voice box (larynx): trouble breathing or speaking, pain while swallowing or ear pain.
- Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: chronic sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics, bleeding through the nose, frequent headaches.
- Salivary glands: swelling under the chin or around the jawbone, numbness or paralysis of the muscles in the face, or pain in the face, chin or neck.
What is the treatment for head and neck tumors?
Head and neck cancer treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targetted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of treatments depending upon when the tumor was diagnosed, what stage of tumor was diagnosed or whether the tumor is malignant or not.
How to prevent head and neck tumors?
As it has been well established that prevention is better than cure, early awareness and screening can help save lives of at risk masses. Early diagnosis and screening like medical camps targeted at early detection of symptoms and spreading awareness regarding the different risk factors.
Making the general public aware about the hazards of alcohol and tobacco intake, keeping in mind that second hand smoking is also a risk factor. educating young adults from the very beginning about the hazards of consumption of alcohol and tobacco like carcinogens to target the general public.
