Head and Neck Cancer Symptoms and Risks

Head and neck cancers include a wide range of tumors that can develop in several areas of the head and neck. These tumors account for up to 5% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States.

Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas that begin in the cells that line the moist, mucosal surfaces. Head and neck cancers are nearly twice as common in men as they are in women, and occur more frequently in people over age 50. However, head and neck cancers affect all ages. Doctors see head and neck cancer more often in younger people when the human papillomavirus is present.

Early detection is key to diagnosing and treating head and neck cancers. General head and neck cancer symptoms may include:

• Lump in your neck
• Ear, throat or neck pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Changes in your voice, especially unexplained hoarseness
• Changes in your vision
• Mouth sores
• Poorly fitting dentures

Symptoms can also vary depending on the specific cancer diagnosis.

If any of these symptoms lasts longer than 2 weeks, alert your physician. While these are not conclusive indicators of cancer, they may point to the need for additional diagnosis and screening.

Approximately 75% of head and neck cancers are related to alcohol and/or tobacco use. HPV infection is also often a factor, particularly in cancers involving the throat and tonsils. Making certain lifestyle changes can significantly lower your risk of developing head and neck cancer:

• Don’t use tobacco (especially smokeless tobacco)
• Stop or limit alcohol use
• Wear a protective face mask if you are at risk for potential occupational exposure
• Practice safe sex

The most common risk factors for head and neck cancers are:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Genetics
• HPV infection
• Exposure to occupational inhalants
• Poor diet (head and neck cancer is higher in those who eat few fruits and vegetables)
• Reflux disease

Different types of head and neck cancer can carry specific risks.

Mouth cancer risks

• Being exposed to sunlight
• HPV infection
• Being male
• Being exposed to certain substances at work
• Older age
• Treatment with radiation therapy to the head and neck

Risks for getting cancer of the nose or sinuses

• Being exposed to certain workplace chemicals or dust, such as those found in the following jobs:
  • Flour mill or bakery work
  • Furniture-making/textile fibers
  • Leather tanning
  • Metal-plating/nickel refining
  • Sawmill work
  • Shoemaking
  • Woodworking (carpentry)
• Being male and older than 40

Throat cancer risks

• Eating a diet without enough nutrients
• Having a throat disorder called Plummer-Vinson syndrome
• Infection with Epstein-Barr virus
• Prolonged exposure to asbestos
• HPV infection