Overview

A group of cancers that start in or near your throat, voice box, nose, sinuses, or mouth is known as head and neck cancer. It usually starts in the cells that line these body parts' surfaces. Squamous cells are what doctors call them. Head and neck cancer can be classified into five different types. They get their names from the part of your head or neck they affect. Each type causes different symptoms .

​

1. Oral Cavity

Your lips and the inside of your mouth are affected by this type of cancer.

This includes the following:

• Gums.

• Inside of cheeks

• Under the  tongue

• The top of the inside of mouth(hard palate)

•  Tongue's front two-thirds

​

​

 

Oral cancer symptoms include any ulcer or lesion in your mouth that hasn't healed in over 21 days - This is the most common symptom.

• Your red or white patches in the mouth

• Swelling in your jaw, including swelling that prevents false teeth from fitting properly.

•  bleeding or pain in mouth

• decreased mouth opening.

​

2. Pharynx

 

This is a different name  for  your throat. It's a 5-inch tube that runs from behind your nose to the top of your oesophagus (the tube that runs from your chest to your stomach). Tonsils, back of tongue, and soft palate are all parts of  oropharynx. That's the soft area at the back of your mouth's roof.

The following are symptoms of pharyngeal cancer:

• Breathing or speaking difficulties

•  painful swallowing.

• Pain in the neck or throat that doesn't  go away

• Earaches, pain, or ringing in the ears that doesn't go away

• Having difficulty hearing

 

3. Larynx

​

This is the location of your voice box. It's where your vocal cords and epiglottis are present. The following are symptoms of laryngeal cancer:

• Change in  voice - The most common symptom is hoarseness.

• painful Swallowing .

• Ear ache

 

4. The paranasal sinuses and the nasal cavity

 

The space inside your nose is known as the nasal cavity. Small spaces in the bones of your head around your nose are known as paranasal sinuses.

If you have symptoms of this type of cancer, see your doctor. Here are some warning signs to keep an eye  on :

•  chronic sinus infections.

• You can't clear your sinuses( blocked sinuses)

•  nose bleeds

• headaches

• Swelling in the area around the eyes

• pain in upper teeth.

• Problems with false teeth no longer fitting

​

5. Salivary glands

 

These cause salivation (spit). They're near your jawbone in the lower part of your mouth.

Salivary gland cancer has the following symptoms:

• Swelling under chin

• The area around  jawbone is swollen.

• Face muscles that are numb or paralyzed

• Pain in your face, chin, or neck

​

Risks and Causes :

Tobacco is the leading cause of head and neck cancer. Not only smoking, but also chewing tobacco and snuff are risk factors. Smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars, or pipes can also increase your risk of developing head and neck cancer.

Drinking too much alcohol also increases your risk. You increase your risk even more if you use tobacco and drink too much alcohol.

Other factors that increase your risk include:

• Too much exposure to the sun

• HPV  - a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

• Mononucleosis - caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (mono)

• male sex

• Being over the age of 40

• Being of African-American descent

• smoking pot

• Acid reflux

• weak Immune system 

 

Diagnosis :

If you have symptoms of head or neck cancer, or if your doctor notices anything unusual, you may need to undergo a series of tests. Tissue samples (biopsies) and lab tests on the tumour, if one exists, are among them.

 

• CT scans and X-rays are examples of imaging tests.

• Tests on the blood

• Test for Human Papillomavirus

• Endoscopy is a procedure that examines the inside of the throat (a doctor looks at the inside of your head and neck with a tube that goes in through your nose and down your throat)

 

If you have head or neck cancer, your doctor will try to determine how far it has progressed and what stage you are in. They'll also examine your body to see if it's spread to other parts.

 

Treatment:

What kind of treatment you'll get is determined by a number of factors, including your age.

• The location of the cancer.

• What stage of cancer are you currently dealing with?

• how old are you?

• general well-being

• If you have HPV

 

You may receive only one treatment or a combination of treatments. Surgical, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy are some of the options available.

Following treatment for head and neck cancers, patients may need to work with rehabilitation specialists and other experts to deal with side effects like hearing loss, difficulty eating, dental problems, thyroid issues, difficulty breathing, or difficulty speaking.

 

Read more about specific subtypes of head and neck cancers:

• Cancer of the floor of mouth

• Lip cancer

• Cancer of the tongue

• Tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses

• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma .

• Tumors of the salivary glands

• Cancer of the soft palate

• Cancer of the throat

• Laryngeal cancer

• Thyroid cancer

• Tumors of the pituitary gland

• Esthesioneuroblastoma

• Tonsil cancer

              

A ) Floor of the Mouth Cancer:

 

1) Overview

Cancer that starts on the tissue beneath your tongue is known as floor of the mouth cancer.

The thin, flat cells that line the inside of your mouth are where most mouth cancers start (squamous cells). Changes in the appearance and feel of the tissue on the floor of the mouth, such as a lump or a persistent sore, are frequently the first signs of the disease.

 

2) Signs and Symptoms

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of floor of the mouth cancer:

• Mouth ache

• Mouth sores that won't go away

• Teeth that are loose

• When you swallow, it hurts.

• Loss of weight

• Ear ache

• Neck swelling that may be painful

• In your mouth, there are white patches that won't go away.

3)causes

When a genetic mutation transforms normal, healthy cells into abnormal cells, cancer develops on the floor of the mouth. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a predetermined rate before dying at a predetermined time. Abnormal cells multiply and grow uncontrollably and do not die. The abnormal cells that are accumulating form a mass (tumor).

Factors that are at risk

The following factors may increase the risk of developing mouth cancer on the floor of the mouth:

• Tobacco usage

• consuming alcoholic beverages

• Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Taking immune-suppressing medications

The risk is even higher if you use tobacco and drink alcohol.

4)Preventative measures

There are a number of things you can do to lower your chances of developing mouth cancer on the floor of your mouth, including:

• Tobacco should not be used. Don't start using tobacco if you don't already. If you currently use tobacco in any form, speak with your doctor about quitting strategies.

• If you choose to drink, keep it to a minimum. Consume alcohol in moderation if you choose to do so. That means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men for healthy adults.

• Maintain a regular dental routine. Your dentist will examine your mouth for signs of cancer and precancerous changes during your appointment.

• Take, for example, the HPV vaccine. Getting vaccinated against HPV infection can lower your risk of HPV-related cancers like mouth cancer. Consult your doctor to see if an HPV vaccine is right for you.

5)Diagnosis

The following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose cancer of the floor of the mouth:

• A thorough physical examination is performed. A physical exam and a discussion of your symptoms and medical history are the first steps in the process.

• Taking a tissue sample for testing (biopsy). A scalpel may be used by your doctor to remove a sample of suspicious cells from the floor of your mouth. Your doctor will then send the sample to a laboratory, where experts will examine the cells to see if they are cancerous.

• Imaging tests are performed. Your doctor will use imaging tests to determine the extent of your cancer and whether it has spread. CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography are some of the tests that may be performed (PET). The tests you take will be determined by your specific circumstances.

• Evaluations of nutrition, speech, and swallowing. To determine next steps, some people may need to meet with nutrition, speech, and swallowing specialists.

6)Treatment options for cancer of the floor of the mouth include:

• Surgery : The size, type, location, and depth of the tumour spread determine the type of surgery used to treat floor of the mouth cancer. If the tumour has spread beyond the mouth's floor, nearby lymph nodes may need to be removed and examined to determine the extent of the cancer.

• Radiation therapy : Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by bombarding them with high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons. Radiation can be used alone to treat small cancers on the floor of the mouth, or it can be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy :  Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is frequently used after surgery for people with cancer of the floor of the mouth to kill any cancer cells that may remain. It's sometimes used in conjunction with radiation therapy.

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses light. Your doctor will use a medication to make cancer cells vulnerable to high-intensity light energy, such as lasers, in this treatment. Your doctor will expose the cancer cells to a specific wavelength and energy of light after the medication has been absorbed by the target tissue. This activates the drug and destroys the cancerous or precancerous cells.

• Reconstructive surgery is a type of surgery that helps to rebuild a person. Some people may require reconstructive surgery to restore mouth function, depending on the size, location, and spread of the cancer.

• Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation specialists in speech therapy, swallowing therapy, dietetics, physical therapy, and occupational therapy assist with post-surgery or radiation therapy rehabilitation.

• Palliative care : Palliative care is a type of medical treatment that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms associated with a serious illness. Palliative care specialists collaborate with you, your family, and your other doctors to add an extra layer of support to your ongoing treatment.

 

B) Lip Cancer

 

1) Overview

Lip cancer is a cancer that affects the skin of the lips. Lip cancer can develop on either the upper or lower lip, but it is most common on the lower lip. Lip cancer is a type of mouth cancer (also known as oral cancer).

The majority of lip cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which means they start in the thin, flat cells called squamous cells in the middle and outer layers of the skin.

Excessive sun exposure and tobacco use are both risk factors for lip cancer. By wearing a hat or using sunscreen to protect your face from the sun, as well as quitting smoking, you can lower your risk of developing lip cancer.

Lip cancer is usually treated with surgery to remove the cancer. Surgery may be a minor procedure with little impact on your appearance for small lip cancers.

Larger lip cancers may necessitate more extensive surgery. After surgery, with careful planning and reconstruction, you can keep your ability to eat and speak normally while also achieving a pleasing appearance.

2) Signs and Symptoms

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of lip cancer:

• A whitish discoloration of the lip that is flat or slightly raised.

• A persistent sore on your lip

• Lips or skin around the mouth tingling, pain, or numbness

When should you see a doctor?

If you have any persistent signs or symptoms that concern you, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

3) Reasons for this

What causes lip cancer is unknown.

In general, cancer begins when cells' DNA undergoes changes (mutations). The DNA of a cell contains the instructions that tell it what to do. The modifications instruct the cell to begin multiplying uncontrollably and to live even when healthy cells would die. The accumulating cells form a tumour, which has the potential to invade and destroy healthy body tissue.

Factors that are at risk

Lip cancer can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Tobacco use in any form, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff, is prohibited.

• Excessive sun exposure to your lips if you have fair skin

• Immune system dysfunction

4) Preventative measures

You can lower your risk of developing lip cancer by doing the following:

• Stop using tobacco or don't start using it at all. Stop using tobacco if you do. Don't start using tobacco if you don't already. Tobacco use, whether smoked or chewed, exposes your lips' cells to dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.

• In the middle of the day, stay out of the sun.. Even in the winter or when the sky is cloudy, schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day.

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating a lot.

• Avoid tanning beds at all costs. UV rays from tanning beds can increase your risk of developing lip cancer.

5) Lip cancer is diagnosed using the following tests and procedures:

• Examination of the body. During a physical exam, your doctor will look for signs of cancer in your lip, mouth, face, and neck. Your doctor will inquire about your symptoms and signs.

• Taking a tissue sample for testing. Your doctor will remove a small sample of tissue for laboratory testing during a biopsy. A pathologist (a doctor who analyses body tissue) can determine whether cancer is present, the type of cancer, and the level of aggressiveness present in cancer cells in the laboratory.

• Imaging tests are performed. Imaging tests can be used to see if the cancer has spread past the lip. Computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) are examples of imaging tests (PET).

6) Treatment options for lip cancer include:

• Surgery. The lip cancer and a margin of healthy tissue that surrounds it are removed through surgery. The lip is then repaired, allowing normal eating, drinking, and speaking to resume. Scar-reduction techniques are also employed.

Repairing the lip after surgery for small lip cancers may be a simple procedure. Larger lip cancers, on the other hand, may necessitate the use of skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons to repair the lip. Reconstructive surgery may entail transferring tissue and skin from another part of the body to the face.

Lip cancer surgery may also include the removal of cancerous lymph nodes in the neck.

• Radiation therapy : radiation therapy employs high-energy beams such as X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy for lip cancer can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery. The radiation may be directed solely at your lip, or it may also be directed at your neck lymph nodes.

The most common source of radiation therapy for lip cancer is a large machine that precisely focuses the energy beams. In some cases, however, the radiation can be applied directly to your lip and left there for a short period of time. Doctors can use higher doses of radiation with this procedure, known as brachytherapy.

• Chemotherapy : Chemotherapy is sometimes used in conjunction with radiation therapy to improve the effectiveness of treatment for lip cancer. Chemotherapy may be used to reduce signs and symptoms and make you more comfortable if you have advanced lip cancer that has spread to other parts of your body.

• Drug therapy with a specific goal in mind. Targeted drug treatments concentrate on specific flaws found in cancer cells. Targeted drug treatments can kill cancer cells by preventing them from exploiting these flaws. Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with targeted drug therapy.

• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a drug that boosts your immune system's ability to fight cancer. Because cancer cells produce proteins that help them hide from immune system cells, your body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack cancer. Immunotherapy works by interfering with the immune system's natural processes. When cancer of the lip has progressed to the point where other treatments are no longer effective, immunotherapy may be considered.