Head and Neck Cancer: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

In medical terms, head and neck cancer refers to a group of cancers that develop in the mouth, throat, larynx, nose, sinuses or salivary glands. In India it accounts for nearly 30% of all cancers and 60% to 80% of the patients are diagnosed at the advanced stage of the disease. In about 75% cases, head and neck cancer is caused due to consumption of alcohol or tobacco. The condition is often curable, if it is diagnosed well in time and treatment usually includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy. Because of its location, this cancer can impair a patient’s ability to eat, breathe and swallow.

Causes of Head and Neck Cancer

One of the major risk factors for head and neck cancer is tobacco smoke as it has carcinogenic compounds such as acrylonitrile that cause DNA damage. Cigarette smokers have a lifetime increased risk that is 5 to 25 times more than the general population. Smokeless tobacco and cigar are also important risk factors for oral cancer. Excessive consumption of red meat, processed meat and eggs have also been associated with an increased occurrence of head and neck cancer. Chewing betel nut increases the risk of squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Some cancers are also caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Other possible factors include heavy alcohol consumption, chewing gutkha, weakened immune system, poor oral hygiene, and prolonged exposure to petroleum industry chemicals, etc. among others.

Signs and Symptoms

While the initial symptoms may seem harmless such as a sore throat, painful swallowing or hoarseness in voice, but if they persist for long they can transform into a chronic condition as well. Some of the most common symptoms include:

1. Bleeding/ numbness in the mouth
2. Lump in the mouth, lips or gums
3. Sinus congestion
4. Difficulty in swallowing food
5. Red, white or dark patches in the mouth
6. Sores or ulcers in the mouth
7. Enlarged lymph glands in the neck
8. Changes in diet or weight loss

Treating Head and Neck Cancer

Treatment is based on the patient’s unique diagnosis and may include a combination of the following:

1. Surgery: Surgery is undertaken to remove the cancerous cells entirely. Though it is the first-line treatment option in most cases, it is usually combined with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
2. Immunotherapy: This treatment activates the immune system to fight cancer.
3. Targeted Therapy: In this treatment, drugs are used to identify and attack some specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. The drugs are designed to block cancer’s growth by attacking those proteins that facilitate the growth and division of cancer cells.
4. Radiation Therapy: The most common form of treatment, it could include 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, particle beam therapy or brachytherapy. In this therapy, high doses of radiation are delivered to tumor cells using technology while the surrounding cells and tissues receive minimum damage.
5. Chemotherapy: Though not a cure, chemotherapy creates an inhospitable environment for metastases and prevents it from spreading to other parts of the body.

If diagnosed early, treatment becomes easier and chances of survival increase tremendously. But avoiding the risk factors is the single most-effective form of prevention. So, avoid tobacco and eat more raw and cooked vegetables as they can have a protective effect on your health.