Thyroid and skin cancers are not counted among this group.

Symptoms

Symptoms of head and neck cancer vary, depending on the specific cancer.

Salivary Gland Cancer

Cancers of the salivary glandsare rare.

Patient discussing neck problems with doctor

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These cancers are found in the three main salivary glands responsible for producing the saliva in your mouth.

These are called theparotid glands,submandibular glands, andsublingual glands.

Smoking, excessive alcohol use, and HPV are the strongest risk factors for cancers of the larynx.

Hypopharyngeal Cancer

These cancers are found in the lowest part of yourpharynx.

This part of the pharynx also is called the laryngopharynx.

It’s a part of your throat behind your voicebox, or larynx.

Common symptoms include pain, difficulty swallowing, and bleeding.

Hypopharynxcancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers.

What Is the Epstein Barr Virus?

Some HPV-linked cancers are on the rise, especially in young people and those who never used tobacco.

However, many people are not aware that HPV is a risk factor.

Diagnosis

How head and neck cancer is diagnosed depends on what bang out of cancer is suspected.

Lab tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and endoscopies are all methods of diagnosing many types of cancer.

Some of the more common imaging tests used to diagnose head and neck cancers include the PET-CT imaging tests.

The CT scan also may be done alone.

This allows a healthcare provider to directly visualize any tissues that are involved.

Abiopsy, or tissue sample of a suspected tumor, may be removed to confirm a diagnosis.

A pathologist reviews the cells under a microscope for identify a cancer and its pop in.

Once cancer is confirmed, the cancer stage is then determined and a treatment plan is created.

Chemotherapy given in conjunction with radiation is standard treatment for more advanced cancers.

So is using a barrier method of contraception when participating in oral sex.

In fact, the risk is greater for people who both drinkanduse tobacco products.

Poor oral hygiene may also be related to head and neck cancer.

Summary

There are several different kinds of head and neck cancer, including cancers associated with HPV.

The symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer and, among other things, how far it has advanced.

Prevention, too, depends on the pop in of cancer and the specific risk factors for it.

Your doctor also can tell you if an HPV vaccine is a good choice for you.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Head and neck cancer basics.

Oji C, Chukwuneke F.Poor oral hygiene may be the sole cause of oral cancer.J Maxillofac Oral Surg.

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