Tumors of the oral cavity may first be detected during a dental examination.
The majority of head and neck tumors occur in mucous lined areas that are open to the outside environment. These include tumors of the salivary glands, lips, tongue, sinuses, nasal cavities, larynx or voice box and lymph nodes in the upper neck. Also included are tumors occurring in the pharynx, the hollow tube running from behind the nose to the esophagus and trachea. Tumors of the brain, skull, eye, thyroid, skin and muscles of the head are not grouped with head and neck tumors, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Frequency
The Mayo Clinic states that approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with head and neck tumors each year, representing between four and six percent of all new malignancy cases. More than three times as many men as women are diagnosed with this group of tumors, with the discrepancy between the genders being even higher for cancer of the larynx. This difference is accounted for by the fact that more men than women engage in activities known to be common risk factors.
Risk Factors
Tobacco; either smoked or chewed, and alcohol use are considered the highest risk factors for head and neck tumors, with 85 percent of them being linked to tobacco use alone according to the National Cancer Institute. Other risk factors associated with site specific tumors of the head and neck include: poor oral hygiene, sun exposure, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, airborne asbestos exposure, wood and nickel dust inhalation, and the chewing of paan or betel quid, a leaf commonly chewed by people of Southeast Asian descent.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Common symptoms of head and neck tumors include: lumps or sores that do not heal, a sore throat that does not resolve, pain, chronic bad breath and voice changes. Weight loss may be observed in individuals who have difficulty swallowing. To confirm a diagnosis, physicians may perform a physical examination, blood and urine tests, X rays and /or CAT scans and a biopsy, or the removal of a suspect tissue sample. If a biopsy if determined to be malignant, the tumor will also be staged to determine whether or not it has spread to other areas, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Treatment Options
Treatments options will vary depending on the stage and site of the cancer. Surgical removal of the tumor plus some of the healthy tissue surrounding it; known as the margins, may be performed. Surgery may be followed by radiation therapy, in which high energy x-ray beams are focused on tumor areas as well. A third option is chemotherapy, consisting of taking drugs designed to kill cancer cells, reports the Mayo Clinic.
Considerations
Each of the treatment options comes with a list of side effects that should be discussed with your health care team. Surgery may alter a patient's facial appearance, or affect their future abilities to chew, swallow or talk according to the National Cancer Institute. During radiation therapy, patients may experience irritation, a loss of taste, skin drooping, and jaw stiffness that may have a lasting effect. Chemotherapy side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss and sores; though these should resolve following the completion of therapy.
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