“Head and neck cancer” is the term given to cancers in the head and neck region. There are many
different types of tissues in this area. These cancers can begin in any of these places:
Voice box or larynx
Nasal cavity: the passage behind the nose that air passes through it on its way to the throat during breathing
Mouth or oral cavity: including your lips, gums, tongue, floor of mouth, palate (roof of mouth), and tonsils
Paranasal sinuses: empty spaces around the nose (sinuses), lined with cells that make mucus that keeps the nose from drying out. They are also a space that allows your voice to echo when you talk or sing.
Throat or pharynx
Salivary glands: the glands that make saliva, which keeps food moist and helps dissolve food
What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?
The symptoms of head and neck cancer vary depending on where the cancer began.
The most common symptoms include:
Growth or non-healing sore in the mouth
Lump in the neck
Lump in the face
Lump or sore inside the nose, on the lip
Mass or bump on your scalp
Sore throat that does not go away
Feeling that something is stuck in the throat
Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
Coughing up blood or bleeding in the mouth
Trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing
Pain when swallowing with or without weight loss
Pain in the ear, face, chin, neck, upper back, jaw, or teeth
Frequent nosebleeds or nosebleeds that don’t stop
Weakness in the muscles of the face or paralysis of one side of face, especially associated with a lump in the face or neck
Numbness in the face
Swelling of the eyes, under the chin, or around the jaw
Bad breath even with proper oral hygiene
Red or white patches in the mouth
Loose teeth or dentures despite dental care
Unexplained weight loss
Head & Neck Cancer: What You Should Know
Dr. John Song discusses:
The symptoms typically associated with head and neck cancer
Who is most at risk for developing HPV-related cancer
Risk factors that increase the likelihood for developing head and neck cancer
