There are five types of head and neck cancer. They are as following:
- Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer ( voice box and lower throat)
- Oral cavity and orpharyngeal cancer ( mouth and throat)
- Nasopharyngeal cancer ( upper throat)
- Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses cancer ( Nose and sinus)
- Salivary gland cancer
- Cancers that start in the larynx (voice box) are called laryngeal cancers
- Cancers that start in the hypopharynx (lower throat) are called hypopharyngeal cancers
- Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers start in the lower part of the throat.
Signs and symptoms of these cancers may include
- A sore throat that does not go away
- Pain when swallowing
- Trouble swallowing
- Ear pain
- Trouble breathing
- Weight loss
- A lump or mass in the neck (because the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes)
Risk Factors
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Excess body weight
- Poor nutrition: Poor nutrition might increase the risk of getting hypopharyngeal cancer. People with Plummer-Vinson syndrome typically have poor nutrition because of rings of thin tissue (also called webs) in their esophagus that makes it hard to swallow. They commonly have anemia from low iron levels. Having this syndrome puts people at risk of esophageal and hypopharyngeal cancers.
- Genetic syndromes
- People with syndromes caused by inherited gene defects (mutations) have a very high risk of throat cancer, including cancer of the hypopharynx
- Fanconi anemia: People with this syndrome often have blood problems at an early age, which may lead to leukemia so have a very high risk of cancer of the mouth and throat, including laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.
- Dyskeratosis congenita: This genetic syndrome can cause aplastic anemia, skin rashes, and abnormal fingernails and toenails. People with this syndrome have a very high risk of developing head and neck cancers, especially of the mouth and throat, when they are young.
- Workplace exposure
- Long and intense exposures to wood dust, paint fumes, and certain chemicals used in the metalworking, petroleum, construction, and textile industries can increase the risk of laryngeal and some hypopharyngeal cancers.
- Gender
- Cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx are about 5 times more common in men than women. This is likely because the main risk factors − smoking and heavy alcohol use − are more common in men. But in recent years, as these habits have become more common among women, their risks for these cancers have increased as well.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- When acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus it’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD can cause heartburn and increase the chance of cancer of the esophagus.
Oral cavity cancer starts in the mouth. It might also be called oral cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the middle part of the throat just behind the oral cavity that can be seen when the mouth is open. The oral and cavity and oropharynx help you breathe, talk, eat, chew and swallow.
Signs or symptoms
- A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal
- Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away
- A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, or cheek
- A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or lining of the mouth
- A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat that doesn’t go away
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Trouble moving the jaw or tongue
- Numbness of the tongue, lip, or other area of the mouth
- Swelling or pain in the jaw
- Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
- Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth
- Voice changes
- A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat
- Weight loss
- Pain in the ear
Risk Factors
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Gender
- Excess body weight
- Ultraviolet light: Sunlight is the main source of UV light for most people. Cancers of the lip are more common in people who have outdoor jobs where they are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.
- Poor nutrition
- Genetic syndromes: People with syndromes caused by inherited defects (mutations) in certain genes have a very high risk of mouth and middle throat cancer.
Nasopharyngeal cancer forms on the nasopharynx that is the upper part of the throat (pharynx) that lies behind the nose. It’s a box-like chamber about 1½ inches on each edge. It lies just above the soft part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) and just in back of the nasal passages. The nasopharynx serves as a passageway for air traveling from the nose to the throat (and then on to the lungs)
Signs and Symptom
Most people with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) notice a lump or mass in the neck. There may be lumps on both sides of the neck towards the back. The lumps are usually not tender or painful. They’re caused by the cancer spreading to lymph nodes in the neck, causing them to swell.
Other possible symptom includes:
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ear, pain, or feeling of fullness in the ear (especially on one side only)
- Ear infections that keep coming back
- Nasal blockage or stuffiness
- Nosebleeds
- Headaches
- Facial pain or numbness
- Trouble opening the mouth
- Blurred or double vision
- Trouble breathing or talking
Risk Factors
The exact cause of most cases of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is not known. But scientists have found that it’s linked with certain diets, infections, and inherited characteristics.
Eating a diet high in salt-cured fish and meat seems to increase the ability of EBV( Epstein-Barr virus) to cause NPC. Studies show that foods preserved in this way may produce chemicals that can damage DNA. The damaged DNA then alters a cell’s ability to control its growth and replication.
Some studies suggest that inheriting certain tissue types may contribute to a person’s risk of developing NPC. Because the tissue type plays a role in the function of the immune system, some scientists suspect that an abnormal immune reaction to EBV infection may be involved. The details of how certain tissue types might increase NPC risk are still being worked out.
Nasopharyngeal cancer forms on the nasopharynx that is the upper part of the throat (pharynx) that lies behind the nose. It’s a box-like chamber about 1½ inches on each edge. It lies just above the soft part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate) and just in back of the nasal passages. The nasopharynx serves as a passageway for air traveling from the nose to the throat (and then on to the lungs)
Signs and Symptom
Most people with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) notice a lump or mass in the neck. There may be lumps on both sides of the neck towards the back. The lumps are usually not tender or painful. They’re caused by the cancer spreading to lymph nodes in the neck, causing them to swell.
Other possible symptom includes:
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ear, pain, or feeling of fullness in the ear (especially on one side only)
- Ear infections that keep coming back
- Nasal blockage or stuffiness
- Nosebleeds
- Headaches
- Facial pain or numbness
- Trouble opening the mouth
- Blurred or double vision
- Trouble breathing or talking
Risk Factors
The exact cause of most cases of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is not known. But scientists have found that it’s linked with certain diets, infections, and inherited characteristics.
Eating a diet high in salt-cured fish and meat seems to increase the ability of EBV( Epstein-Barr virus) to cause NPC. Studies show that foods preserved in this way may produce chemicals that can damage DNA. The damaged DNA then alters a cell’s ability to control its growth and replication.
Some studies suggest that inheriting certain tissue types may contribute to a person’s risk of developing NPC. Because the tissue type plays a role in the function of the immune system, some scientists suspect that an abnormal immune reaction to EBV infection may be involved. The details of how certain tissue types might increase NPC risk are still being worked out.
Salivary gland cancer starts in one of the salivary glands. There are several different salivary glands inside and near your mouth. Benign (non-cancer) and malignant (cancer) tumors can develop in these glands. Compared to other types of head and neck cancers, salivary gland cancers are rare.
Based on how normal the cells look, salivary gland cancers are also often graded (from 1 to 3, or from low to high), The grade of the cancer gives an idea of how quickly it is likely to grow and spread. Also, people with low-grade cancers tend to have better outcomes than those with high grade cancers.
Grade 1 (also called low grade or well differentiated) means the cancer cells look very much like normal salivary gland cells. They tend to grow slowly and have a good outcome (prognosis).
Grade 2 (also called intermediate grade or moderately differentiated) means the cancer cells look like those between grade 1 and grade 3 cancers. The outcomes are also between a grade 1 and grade 3 cancer.
Grade 3 (also called high grade or poorly differentiated) means the cancer cells look very different from normal cells and often grow and spread quickly. The outlook for these cancers is usually not as good as for lower grade cancers.
Signs and Symptom
- A lump or swelling in your mouth, cheek, jaw, or neck
- Pain in your mouth, cheek, jaw, ear, or neck that does not go away
- A recent difference between the size and/or shape of the left and right sides of your face or neck
- Numbness in part of your face
- Weakness of the muscles on one side of your face
- Trouble opening your mouth widely
- Trouble swallowing
Many of these signs and symptoms can also be caused by benign (non-cancer) salivary gland tumors or by other conditions. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Risk Factors
A few risk factors are known to make a person more likely to develop salivary gland cancer, but most salivary gland cancers start without any clear cause.
- Older age: The risk of salivary gland cancer goes up as people get older.
- Radiation exposure: Radiation treatment to the head and neck area for other medical reasons increases your risk of salivary gland cancer, especially if your salivary glands were not protected during the radiation. Workplace exposure to certain radioactive substances may also increase the risk of salivary gland cancer.
- Smoking
- Other possible risk factors are workplace exposure (people who work with certain metals (nickel alloy dust) or minerals (silica dust), and people who work in asbestos mining, plumbing, rubber products manufacturing, and some types of woodworking may be at increased risk for salivary gland cancer, but these links are not certain), and poor diet.