May is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month
Kelly Martinez, RN, ONN-CG | Oncology Nurse Navigator, Mercy Health joins Lori Dine of Mercy Health and Kimberly Newman of The Victory Center.
Cancers of the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck include:
- Oral cavity
- Throat
- Voice box
- Sinuses and nasal cavity
- Salivary glands
Cancers of the brain, the eye, the esophagus, the thyroid gland, and the skin of the head and neck are not usually classified as head and neck cancers.
Risk factors for head and neck cancers:
- Alcohol and tobacco use (Ask your provider for tobacco cessation assistance)
- Infection with cancer-causing types of HPV, especially HPV type 16
- Occupational exposure, like wood dust
- These cancers are more than twice as common among men as they are among women
- Head and neck cancers are diagnosed more often among people over age 50
Symptoms of head and neck cancer:
- Lump in the neck, or a sore in the mouth or throat that does not heal and may be painful
- Sore throat that does not go away
- Difficulty swallowing
- Change or hoarseness in voice
Head and neck cancer treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of treatments. The treatment plan for an individual patient depends on a number of factors, including the location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, and the person’s age and general health.
Side effects of treatment
- Surgery for head and neck cancers may affect the patient’s ability to chew, swallow, or talk.