Head and neck cancers are the general name given to cancer types that occur in tissues in certain areas of the head and throat. It constitutes about 10% of all cancer types. The main types are; mouth, oral cavity, lip, pharynx, nasal and larynx cancers. Head and neck cancers have a high chance of being treated with early diagnosis. The early emergence of symptoms facilitates early diagnosis and treatment. Early treatment makes it possible to eliminate head and neck cancers before they progress (metastasize) in the body. The most common symptoms are; swelling in certain parts of the head and neck, long-term wounds in the mouth or inside the mouth, hoarseness and shortness of breath.
What is the Cause of Head and Neck Cancers?
The biggest factor in the formation of head and neck cancers , smoking and alcohol use. Those who use only cigarettes or alcohol have a lower risk of developing cancer than those who use both. Another factor that causes head and neck cancers is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection. In addition, poor oral hygiene, bad eating habits and Ebstein-Barr virus infection are among the other causes.
What are the Symptoms of Head and Neck Cancers?
Symptoms in head and neck cancers are usually early. occurs in the period. Common symptoms include;
- Swelling in the head and neck,
- Non-healing sores in the mouth, tongue or lips,
- Drowsiness in the mouth, difficulty in chewing and swallowing,
- Hoarseness, difficulty in breathing,
- Nasal congestion or nosebleeds,
- Swelling around the eyes or double vision,
- Continuous earache, tinnitus, hearing loss.
How to Diagnose Head and Neck Cancers
Initial diagnosis in head and neck cancers includes physical examination and endoscopic imaging . First of all, the patient's mouth and throat are examined with a mirror. The nose and throat are examined in detail with an endoscope. A biopsy is taken from the suspicious area for pathological examination. For the biopsy sample, the patient may need to receive local or general anesthesia. For radiological examinations, imaging with ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) is provided.
How to Treat Head and Neck Cancers?
Treatment of head and neck cancers, like all other types of cancer, is personal. The first option in treatment is surgical intervention. In addition, radiotherapy (radiation therapy) and, in some cases, chemotherapy are effective treatment options in head and neck cancers.
While a single treatment method may be sufficient for some patients, a combined treatment method combining several methods is preferred in some patients. In the selection of the treatment method, the type and stage of the cancer; Factors such as the patient's general health, gender and age are effective.
Well, what are the most common head and neck cancers in the community? How do the symptoms of these types of cancer differ? How is the diagnosis made and how is the treatment carried out? Now, let's examine some common head and neck cancers in detail.
What is Oral Cancer and Why It Occurs?
Oral cancer; It is seen in the lips, tongue, gums, palate, floor of the mouth and back of the tongue. The average age of onset is 60. It is more common in men. 3 out of 4 people who have oral cancer use cigarettes and alcohol. Both cigarette and alcohol users are at higher risk of being seen because alcohol increases the absorption of cancer-causing substances in cigarettes. In addition, dentures that are not cleaned well and are poorly cared for can also cause oral cancer. Difficulty in speaking and swallowing, feeling of numbness, white and red spots in the mouth are evaluated as signs of oral cancer. Although the developing tumors do not cause pain, the wounds may spread and cause bleeding. Diagnosis is made with a small biopsy in addition to the examination. Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance (MR) scans can be performed to determine the extent of the cancer and learn its spread. Patient-specific single or combined treatments can be applied. With early treatment, the probability of recovery is high. Restorative care in the mouth or teeth after treatment, talk� Supports such as ma therapy and nutritional counseling can be obtained.
What is Pharyngeal Cancer and Why It Occurs?
Pharyngeal cancer is cancer that occurs in squamous tissue cells in the pharynx. It is difficult to detect early, as the complaints usually occur when they begin to affect the vocal cords. However, when detected early, factors such as smoking can be reduced and regressed. Progressive pharyngeal cancer spreads to nearby areas. The main reason is smoking, 90% of the patients smoke. Excessive alcohol use, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, chronic nasal infections, smoked food consumption can be counted among the other causes.
The main symptoms of pharyngeal cancers are voice changes and hoarseness. Symptoms such as sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, cough, ear pain, swelling in the neck, loss of smell and hearing, double vision or strabismus, facial numbness are also present. It begins with imaging with an endoscopy or with endoscopy. Lymph nodes affected by pharyngeal cancer are checked by neck examination. In addition, biopsy, ultrasonography, tomography and magnetic resonance scans also help in diagnosis when necessary. Chemotherapy (drug therapy), radiotherapy (radiation therapy) and surgical treatment (surgery) are applied alone or in combination. Generally, it is aimed to minimize the damage to the vocal cords without removing the entire pharynx.
What are Lip and Oral Cavity Cancers and Why They Occur?
Lip cancers are cancers that mostly occur in the lower lip. The most common type of cancer in the oral cavity is lip cancer. It is most common in men over 60 years of age. The biggest factor in lip cancer is smoking and long-term exposure to sunlight (UV). Lack of oral and dental hygiene, excessive alcohol consumption are among the other causes.
White or red sores, swellings and movement disorders seen on the lips for more than two weeks are among the symptoms of lip cancer. In the early stage, white crusted sores on the lip are a sign of lesion. Bleeding occurs when the crust of the wound is removed. In this way, deep tissue The final diagnosis of lip cancers is made by the physician's physical examination and by taking a biopsy from the cancerous area. There is no routine screening, it can be diagnosed during the controls of physicians or dentists.
Lip cancers are usually treated with surgical intervention. If necessary, a piece can also be taken from the neck area. In advanced stages, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be applied together in addition to surgery. It is a type of cancer that occurs in the nose. Although the exact cause is not known, it has been seen that the most important factor is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection. Smoking and alcohol use, high consumption of smoked or pickled foods can cause nasal cancer. Patients are generally of advanced age.
Common symptoms in nasal cancer are swelling in the neck and double vision. In addition to these, recurrent ear infections, facial numbness, ligament pain, hearing loss, nosebleeds, sore throat are among the symptoms of nasal cancer.
The diagnosis of nasal cancer is made by physical examination of the throat and biopsy. If necessary, scanning can be done with advanced imaging methods. Blood tests are performed to determine the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection. Early diagnosis of the disease is important since the chance of treatment is high in the early stage.
The first treatment option in nasal cancer is radiotherapy, in other words radiation therapy. In 70% of the patients, spread (metastasis) to the lymph nodes in the throat is seen at the first admission. During the treatment, the primary area (the area where the cancer first appears) is treated, while the neck area is also included in the radiation therapy area. Unlike other head and neck cancers, the spread to distant sites is high in nasal cancer. If there is a spread to distant parts of the body, chemotherapy can be applied in addition to radiation therapy.
How Does Laryngeal Cancer Occur?
It is more common in men due to cigarette, tobacco and tobacco products use. One or more of the surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy methods are used together in the treatment of common laryngeal cancer. Detailed information about c cancer What is Throat Cancer? You can find it at.
What is Salivary Gland Cancer and How Does It Occur?
The salivary glands are structures in the human body that contain cells from different layers. Therefore, many different types of cancer can arise from the tissue. This tissue difference leads to multiple different pathways in the treatment of salivary gland cancer.
The symptom of salivary gland cancer is often a palpable, painless swelling. The swelling tends to grow after a long time. When swelling is detected, a piece of this swelling is taken with a needle and evaluated. If the part is diagnosed as cancer, the appropriate treatment process (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) is planned.
Early diagnosis is very important in head and neck cancers, as it will allow early treatment, as in all other cancers. Especially if you use cigarettes and alcohol; If you have complaints such as ongoing pain, sores and tenderness in your mouth, face, throat and head areas, you can consult a physician.
Read: 0
