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Head and Neck Cancer

Common Types

Head and Neck Cancer

Specialized care for cancers affecting the mouth, throat, voice box, and other areas of the head and neck.

Oral cavity cancer

Affects lips, tongue, cheeks, and gums.

Pharyngeal cancer

Includes nasopharynx, oropharynx (tonsils, base of tongue), and hypopharynx.

Laryngeal cancer

Affects the voice box.

  • Tobacco use (smoking and smokeless)
  • Alcohol consumption
  • HPV infection (especially oropharyngeal cancers)
  • Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma)
  • Occupational exposures (wood dust, asbestos)
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Age >40
  • Male gender
  • Diet low in fruits and vegetables
  • A lump or sore that doesn’t heal
  • Persistent sore throat
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Hoarseness or voice change
  • Ear pain or hearing loss
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Swelling or a mass in the neck
  • Bleeding from mouth or nose
  • Physical exam
  • Endoscopy
  • Imaging: CT, MRI, PET scans
  • Biopsy
  • HPV or EBV testing (site-specific)
  • T (Tumor size)
  • N (Lymph node involvement)
  • M (Metastasis)
  • Surgery (primary or salvage)
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Targeted therapy (e.g., cetuximab)
  • Immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab for metastatic/recurrent disease)
  • Multimodal treatment is common for advanced stages.