By Mary Kay Holloway RDN CSO LDN, Dietitian at the Community Cancer Center
April is the month for building awareness for a variety of issues. For instance, April is awareness month for alcohol, autism, multiple births. When it comes to cancer, April is the month for Awareness for Head and Neck Cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), cancers of the head and neck account for at least three percent of cancer in the United States, occurring mostly in people between 45 to 75 years of age. Head and neck cancer includes cancer of the lip, tongue, salivary glands, gums, other oral cavity tissues, such as the lining of the cheeks, the floor of mouth, tonsils, throat, pharynx, voice box or larynx, lymph nodes in the neck, nasal cavity, sinuses, and ear. As you can see from the anatomy mentioned, if these cancers are left untreated, they can interfere with eating, swallowing, and breathing as well as spread to other parts of the body.
The two main causes of cancers of the head and neck are alcohol and tobacco — including smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco. According to NCI, people who use tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk than people who use either tobacco or alcohol alone. Another risk factor for some types of head and neck cancers is infection with cancer causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16 which involves the tonsils or the base of the tongue. The NCI states that in the United States, the incidence of head and neck cancers caused by HPV infection is increasing, while the incidence of head and neck cancers related to other causes is falling. Other risk factors include poor oral hygiene, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, and occupational exposure to wood dust.
Just as with other cancers, early detection and treatment are critical. If you have any of the following symptoms, make sure to get checked by your physician:
- A sore throat that does not go away
- A sore or growth in the mouth or on the tongue that does not heal and persists
- Trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing food or liquids
- Trouble opening the mouth fully or moving the tongue
- A lump or painless swelling in the neck or side of the face, back of mouth, or throat
- Ear pain, decreased hearing or persistent earache, particularly if accompanied by swallowing difficulties, hoarseness, or a lump in the neck
- A change in voice, or hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
- Coughing up blood or blood in saliva or phlegm for several days
To reduce your risks of cancers in the head and neck, stop smoking, reduce or stop your intake of alcohol, and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. For more information, you can go to https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet.
The Community Cancer Center offers a variety of supportive and educational groups and programs, free of charge, to help patients and families cope with cancer and its effects. For more information go to our website at www.cancercenter.org.