Head and neck

Cancers that are known collectively as head and neck cancers usually begin in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck. These cancers are referred to as squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Risk factors for head and neck cancer are smoking, alcohol consumption, salty foods, poor oral health, genetic factors, exposure to radiation and the HPV virus.

Head and neck cancer can be divided into seven stages. Stage 0 is where there are no cancer cells present in nearby structures or deep tissue and there are no cancer cells in the lymph nodes. Stage I is the same as previous with a primary tumor width of 2cm as is Stage II with a primary tumor width of 2–4cm. Stage III is where there are cancer cells present in the lymph nodes and the primary tumor width is less than 4cm and there are no cancer cells present in nearby structures, lymph nodes or distal sites. Stage IVA is where the primary tumor width is any size and cancer cells may be found in two or more lymph nodes and the tumor has grown into deeper tissue and nearby structures. The penultimate stage is Stage IVB whereby cancer cells may be found in one or more lymph nodes and are less than 6 cm. Stage IVC encompasses all of the above and is where the cancer cells have spread to distal sites.

Symptoms of head and neck cancer include persistently block sinuses, swelling of the jaw, jawbone or lining of the mouth, difficulty in breathing/ speaking as well as hearing problems – to name a few.