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Head cancer or neck cancer
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- This refers to any malignant (cancerous) growth involving the neck and above.
- These cancers often involve the upper airways, mouth, lips and oral cavity (floor of the mouth, tongue), nasopharynx, oropharynx (soft palate, uvula, base of the tongue, back of the throat, tonsils and their structures), hypopharynx (pyriform fossae, postcricoid region and posterior pharyngeal wall), larynx or voice box (supraglottis, glottis, vocal cords), nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands (parotid, submandibular gland and other salivary glands), ear, mastoid process, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, lymph nodes (e.g. Lymphomas), skin (e.g. melanomas, basal cell cancers), and cancers spread from other body parts.
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- See individual cancers
- Leukoplakia --
presence of whitish patches in the mouth
- Erythroplakia --
presence of red, velvety patches in the mouth
- Ulcers or sores that do not heal and last more than 2 weeks
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lump in the neck
- Changes in voice
- Growth in the mouth
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Persistent earache or sore throat
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- Depends on region and type
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- Often the patient is referred to an ENT (ear, nose throat) specialist, and/or an oral surgeon.
- The ENT doctor will examine the patient and may use a device such as the laryngoscope to visualize the throat and the larynx.
- A biopsy may be done.
- Blood works, X-Rays, MRI, or CAT scan of the head and neck are often done if cancer is suspected or to rule out other causes.
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- See individual cancers
- Tobacco and alcohol are major risk factors
- Age over 50
- Male>females
- Sun exposure
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- Depends on the tumor type
- Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery alone, or in combination are the current methods of treatment.
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- Herpes ulcers or other mouth ulcers
- Mumps with resultant parotid enlargement
- Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren's Syndrome
- Salivary gland benign tumors
- Salivary gland stones
- Viral and other infections that may lead to enlargement of lymph nodes
- Nonmalignant thyroid disease
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