What is head and neck cancer?
Head and neck cancer refers to the creation of lumps, tumors, or multiplication of cancer cells in the nose, mouth, throat, sinuses, and lymph nodes in the neck.
Generally, this type of cancer is present in the moist areas of the throat, nose and mouth and appears as a type called squamous cell carcinoma and develops due to the flat squamous cells that are in the tissues that line these areas of the head and neck.
However, there is another type of cancer that develops in the salivary glands and skin, but it is not as common as the other.
Symptoms of this type of cancer:
The symptoms caused by this type of cancer can be confused with any other pathology, so detecting it takes time in most cases.
Symptoms include:
- Sore throat.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Changes in the voice.
- Sores that do not heal.
- Lumps in the neck.
Keeping track of health in the hands of a professional is important when you notice that any of these symptoms, which can be mistaken for flu discomfort, persist for a long time.
It is important to identify cancer early, if it is treated in time there is a greater chance of survival.
It can be said that most cases of cancer diagnosed in the head and/or neck are curable, as long as they are detected early.
How to prevent this type of cancer?
It is not yet known with certainty what can prevent patients from suffering from this type of cancer, however science has found that certain habits increase the chances of suffering from this disease.
For example, excessive alcohol and cigarette consumption are one of the main factors in patients with this disease.
An increased risk is also found in those infected with HPV (Human Papillomavirus).
Therefore, quitting smoking any type of product that contains tobacco, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption and getting vaccinated against HPV before suffering from the virus and maintaining good oral hygiene are responsible actions that can prevent cancer.
It is also known that the risk of this pathology increases after the age of 45, so it is good to be aware and improve our habits and lifestyle before reaching that age in order to avoid the development of cancer.
The way to diagnose this cancer is:
Through a biopsy is the only way to be able to safely diagnose cancer.
However, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination before performing a biopsy that raises sufficient suspicion to recommend the biopsy.
It is also necessary to check the condition, size and expansion of the cancer through imaging tests such as CT scans.
All of these tests are needed to determine whether or not cancer is present, type, level of progression, expansion, and size.
With all this information, the medical oncologist can determine an effective treatment that will help the patient to be cured of the cancer.
The prognosis for people suffering from this type of cancer is mostly positive, it all depends on the patient’s conditions and the stage of the cancer.
What is the treatment for head and neck cancer?
To determine the treatment, it is necessary to know in detail the characteristics of the patient’s cancer, usually a combined treatment is offered that includes surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
It will all depend on what the doctor in charge of the case considers most appropriate.
It is common for only one or two methods to be used.
The treatment, despite being effective, can bring with it side effects that require the intervention of other professionals for speech rehabilitation for example or for nutritional recovery in the process.
What are the side effects of treatment for cancer that appears in the neck or head?
Each side effect will depend on the type of treatment applied to the patient.
With chemotherapy, symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, loss of sense of taste, low blood count are expected.
With radiotherapy, intense pain can be experienced when swallowing, loss of appetite and weight and fatigue.
With surgery, pain and a slow recovery that requires rehabilitation therapy can be expected.
In any case, it is necessary to maintain constant medical control in terms of oral hygiene and physical rehabilitation of speech.
It is also advisable to get a support group of people who have experienced similar experiences to serve as an impetus to continue recovery, that extra boost and motivation is always necessary.
