Head and neck cancer includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat and lymph nodes in the neck. Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose and throat. Symptoms include
- A lump or sore that does not heal
- A sore throat that does not go away
- Trouble swallowing
- A change or hoarseness in the voice
Using tobacco or alcohol increases your risk. In fact, 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco. If found early, these cancers are often curable. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. Treatments can affect eating, speaking or even breathing, so patients may need rehabilitation.
National Cancer Institute
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Head and Neck Cancer: Questions and Answers
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/head-and-neck
- Head and Neck Cancer(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/headNeckCancer.cfm
- Throat Cancer(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/oral-and-throat-cancer/DS00349/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Patient-Reported Health Scores May Predict Head, Neck Cancer Outcomes(09/17/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69407.html
- Erbitux Extends Life for Head and Neck Cancer Patients(09/10/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69137.html
- New Report Estimates More Than 2 Million Cases of Tobacco-Related Cancers Diagnosed in the United States During 1999-2004(09/04/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080904a.htm
- Can Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_be_found_early_23.asp?sitearea=cri
- Can Nasopharyngeal Cancer Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_nasopharyngeal_cancer_be_found_early_17.asp?sitearea=cri
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Computed Tomography (CT): Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headct
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headct
- How Are Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_diagnosed_23.asp?sitearea=cri
- How Are Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_staged_23.asp?sitearea=cri
- How Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_nasopharyngeal_cancer_diagnosed_17.asp?sitearea=cri
- How Is Nasopharyngeal Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_nasopharyngeal_cancer_staged_17.asp?sitearea=cri
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MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/reference/myBiopsy/head_and_neck_larynx.pdf
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Chemotherapy and Radiation Together May Help Save Voicebox(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/voicebox0501
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Head and Neck Cancer(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=hdneck
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=hdneck
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Hypopharyngeal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/hypopharyngeal/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/hipofaringe/patient/
- Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer: Surgery(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_23.asp?rnav=cri
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Laryngeal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/laryngeal/patient/
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Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/metastatic-squamous-neck/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/escamoso-metastasico-del-cuello/patient
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Nasopharyngeal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/nasopharyngeal/patient/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/nasofaringe/patient
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Treatment Options by Stage(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_Options_by_stage_17.asp?rnav=cri
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Oropharyngeal Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/oropharyngeal/patient
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/orofaringe/patient/
- Treatment of Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers by Stage(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_Choices_by_Stage_of_Laryngeal_and_Hypopharyngeal_Cancer_23.asp?rnav=cri
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What Are the Risk Factors for Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_23.asp?sitearea=cri
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.org/docroot/esp/content/esp_5_1x_prevencion_y_factores_de_riesgo_23.asp?
- What Are the Risk Factors for Nasopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_nasopharyngeal_cancer_17.asp?sitearea=cri
- Laryngeal Cancer(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) - http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/LaryngealCancer.htm
- Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5X_What_happens_after_treatment_23.asp?sitearea=&level=
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer: What Happens After Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_5X_What_happens_after_treatment_17.asp?sitearea=&level=
- Tracheostomy Care(American Head and Neck Society) - http://www.headandneckcancer.org/patienteducation/docs/tracheostomy.php
- Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma(American Society of Clinical Oncology) - http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Adenoid+Cystic+Carcinoma
- Chondrosarcoma- Head and Neck(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2164/mainpageS2164P0.html
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Nasopharyngeal Cancer(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/types/674.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/cancer/types/674.printerview.html
- What Is Cancer of Unknown Primary?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_cancer_of_unknown_primary_58.asp?sitearea=cri
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What You Need to Know about Cancer of the Larynx(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/larynx
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Cigarette Smoking and Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cancer
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cancer-Spanish
- Do We Know What Causes Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Do_we_know_what_causes_Laryngeal_and_Hypopharyngeal_cancer_23.asp?sitearea=
- Do We Know What Causes Nasopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_Do_we_know_what_causes_nasopharyngeal_cancer_17.asp?rnav=cri
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Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/CancerTreatment/HeadNeckRadiation.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/CancerTreatment/SuBoca.htm
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Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ)(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/oralcomplications/Patient/page2
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/cuidados-medicos-apoyo/complicacionesorales/Patient/page2
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Questions and Answers about Cigar Smoking and Cancer(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cigars
- Swallowing Problems After Head and Neck Cancer(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) - http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/SwallowingProbs.htm
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Laryngeal or Hypopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_23.asp?sitearea=cri
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Nasopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_nasopharyngeal_cancer_17.asp?sitearea=cri
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Advances in Parotidectomy and Minimally Invasive Thyroidectomy Procedures(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 7/30/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_2312/rnh.cfm?id=759
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Advances in Parotidectomy and Thyroidectomy Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 12/11/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_1882/rnh.cfm?id=669
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Endoscopic Partial Laryngectomy Using Transoral Laser Microsurgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 5/10/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=541
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Head and Neck Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Head+and+Neck+Neoplasms%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Laryngeal Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Laryngeal+Neoplasms%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pharyngeal Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pharyngeal+Neoplasms%22
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Study May Help Head and Neck Cancer Patients Find Relief from Dry Mouth(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) - http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/InterviewsOHR/TIS032007.htm
- What's New in Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6X_Whats_new_in_Laryngeal_and_Hypopharyngeal_cancer_research_and_treatment_23.asp?rnav=cri
- What's New in Nasopharyngeal Cancer Research and Treatment?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6X_Whats_new_in_nasopharyngeal_cancer_research_and_treatment_17.asp?rnav=cri
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Recent advances in head and neck cancer. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18784104&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Platinum-based chemotherapy plus cetuximab in head and neck cancer. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18784101&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Paclitaxel and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent head and neck... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18751444&tool=MedlinePlus
- Head and Neck Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=head+and+neck+neoplasms[majr]+NOT+(tracheal+neoplasms[mh]+OR+mouth+neoplasms[mh]+OR+otorhinolaryngologic+neoplasms[mh]+OR+parathyroid+neoplasms[mh]+OR+thyroid+neoplasms[mh]+OR+esophageal+neoplasms[mh])+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Ear,nose, throat and tracheal cancers -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=otorhinolaryngologic+neoplasms[majr]+OR+tracheal+neoplasms[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+systematic[sb]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
- Find an Otolaryngologist (ENT)(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org//findanentmore.cfm
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery - http://www.entnet.org/
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_laryngeal_and_hypopharyngeal_cancer_23.asp?sitearea=&level=
- What Are the Key Statistics about Nasopharyngeal Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_nasopharyngeal_cancer_17.asp?sitearea=cri
- Cervical Teratoma(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site688/mainpageS688P0.html
- Esophageal Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/esophagealcancer.html
- Eye Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eyecancer.html
- Oral Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/oralcancer.html
- Parathyroid Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/parathyroiddisorders.html
- Thyroid Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroidcancer.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Ear, Nose and Throat - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/earnoseandthroat.html
- Lungs and Breathing - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lungsandbreathing.html
- Mouth and Teeth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mouthandteeth.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Head and Neck Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/