Head and Neck Cancer
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Head and Neck Cancers: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and More
Head and Neck Cancers are a wide range of cancers that occur in the head and neck region. These cancers typically start in the squamous cells located in the soft surfaces inside the head and neck.
Types and Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancers
Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer or oral cancer is cancer that develops in the oral cavity such as on the lips, tongue, gums, roof & floor of the mouth, and inner lining of the cheeks.
Symptoms of Mouth Cancer
Symptoms of mouth cancer include:
- Pain in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Mouth or lip sore that does not heal
- Lump or growth inside the mouth
- Reddish or white patch inside the mouth
- Bad breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Ear pain
Lip Cancer
Lip cancer can occur on the upper or lower lip skin. The majority of lip cancers tend to be squamous cell carcinomas. These cancers start at the squamous cells, which are the thin flat cells located in the upper and middle layers of the skin.
Symptoms of Lip Cancer
Symptoms of lip cancer include:
- A white or red patch on the lip
- A lesion, sore, blister, lump, or ulcer on the mouth that does not heal
- Pain or bleeding on the lip
- Tingling or numbness on the lip
Floor of the Mouth Cancer
Floor of the mouth cancer starts in the tissue that is beneath the tongue.
Symptoms of Floor of the Mouth Cancer
Symptoms of floor of the mouth cancer include:
- A sore in the mouth that keeps growing larger and does not heal
- Pain in the mouth
- Red, white, or dark patches in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lump in the neck
Esthesioneuroblastoma
This is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the upper portion of the nasal cavity. It begins as a tumor in the nasal cavity and can spread into the sinus, eyes, and brain. It can also extend to the lymph nodes in the neck and parotid glands. In the most severe cases, it can spread to other body organs such as the brain, lungs, liver, and bones.
Symptoms of Esthesioneuroblastoma
Symptoms of Esthesioneuroblastoma include:
- Frequent nose bleeds
- Loss of sense of smell
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
This type of cancer occurs in the nasopharynx, located behind the nose and above the back of the throat.
Symptoms of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
While nasopharyngeal carcinoma does not show any symptoms in its early stages, it may show the following symptoms as it progresses:
- Blood in the saliva
- Bloody discharge from the nose
- Swollen lymph nodes that cause a lump in the neck
- Sore throat
- Frequent ear infections
- Loss of hearing
- Headaches
Nasal and Paranasal Tumors
Nasal and paranasal tumors begin in the nasal cavities, which are the open spaces behind the nose. They can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Symptoms of Nasal and Paranasal Tumors
Symptoms of nasal and paranasal tumors can resemble those of colds or infections and they include:
- Reduced sense of smell
- Discharge from the nose
- Watery eyes
- Vision problems
- Changes in voice and breathing
- Blockage of sinuses that never goes away
- Headache
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Facial swelling or pain
- A lesion or sore on the roof of the mouth
Salivary Gland Tumors
These are abnormal growths that begin in the salivary glands. The major salivary glands are located under and behind the jaw. They are the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular. Although most salivary gland tumors are noncancerous, a few can be cancerous.
Symptoms of Salivary Gland Tumors
Symptoms of salivary gland tumors include:
- Partial facial numbness
- Swelling or a lump in the neck or mouth
- Muscle weakness on one side of the face
- Pain where the tumor is located
- Difficulty opening the mouth widely
- Difficulty in swallowing
Soft Palate Cancer
This is cancer that starts in the cells of the soft palate, which is located behind the teeth on the upper portion in the back of the mouth.
Symptoms of Soft Palate Cancer
Symptoms of soft palate cancer include:
- Difficulty swallowing and breathing
- Bad breath
- Mouth pain
- Mouth sores that won’t heal
- Whitish patches in the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Swelling in the neck that may be painful
- Bleeding in the mouth
Tongue Cancer
This type of cancer begins in the cells of the tongue, which can cause tumors or lesions in the tongue.
Symptoms of Tongue Cancer
Symptoms of tongue cancer include:
- A persisting ulcer on the tongue
- A persisting red or white patch on the tongue
- Persisting sore throat
- Persisting lump on the tongue
- Mouth numbness
- Pain when swallowing
- Bleeding from the tongue
Tonsil Cancer
Tonsils are located at the back of the throat in the oropharynx area. They are a pair and help to fight infection. Abnormal growth of cells can form in the tonsils resulting in tonsil cancer.
Symptoms of Tonsil Cancer
Symptoms of tonsil cancer include:
- One tonsil being larger than the other
- Lump on the neck
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Ear pain
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer starts in the cells of the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple. Its work is to regulate blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and weight.
Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Symptoms of thyroid cancer include:
- A cough
- Lump in the throat
- Hoarseness
- Painful neck and throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
Causes of Head and Neck Cancers
Head and Neck Cancers occur due to genetic mutations of normal healthy cells that turn abnormal, multiply out of control, and spread to other parts of the body.
Risk Factors of Head and Neck Cancers
Factors that can increase the risk of developing head and neck cancers include:
- Heavy alcohol use
- Tobacco usage
- Being fair-skinned
- HPV infection
- Prolonged exposure to UV rays
- Weakened immune system
- Long-term exposure to irritants and chemicals
- Exposure to radiation
Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancers
Diagnosing head and neck cancers involves tests and procedures such as:
- Physical exam to look for abnormalities such as white patches, sores, and areas of irritation
- Biopsy to remove a cell sample for analysis
- Imaging tests such as x-ray, MRI, CT, and PET scans to determine whether the cancer has spread
Treatment of Head and Neck Cancers
Treatment of head and neck cancers depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer, the type, stage, size, location, and other factors like overall health. Treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy: Using chemicals to kill cancer cells and increase the effectiveness of radiation and surgery.
- Radiation: Using high-energy beams to kill cancer cells.
- Surgery: To remove cancer cells and prevent it from spreading.
- Immunotherapy: Strengthening the immune system to fight off cancer cells.
- Targeted Drug Therapy: Altering specific aspects of cancer cells to treat them.
Next Step
At King’s College Hospital Dubai, we focus on offering exemplary service. From the initial consultation through to final diagnosis, treatment, and beyond, our multidisciplinary team of expert doctors and nurses, led by Dr. Hassan Ghazal – an American triple board-certified Consultant Medical Oncologist and Consultant Clinical Hematologist with more than 3 decades of clinical experience, are here to offer tailored management and treatment of your condition. If you’re looking for a Dubai cancer hospital, we are here to answer any questions and provide expert care. Whatever you need, we’re only a phone call away.
