Head and Neck Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer – General Information

The Head and Neck Cancer includes the cancers of the nose, mouth, throat, salivary glands, sinuses, and the lymph nodes found in the neck. The cancer usually appears in the moist tissues which line the nose, throat and mouth. The persons who are using tobacco and alcohol are at a high risk of developing this medical condition. It is well known the fact that 85% of the Head and Neck Cancer are linked to the use of alcohol and tobacco. There are seven different types of Head and Neck Cancer which are categorized depending on the organ where the cancer appears. Tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses – the most common tumors which appear in these areas are squamous cell carcinoma. The squamous cells are flat, thin which look like fish scales. These tumors are well defined and grow very slow and are not predisposed to metastasize. Nasopharyngeal Cancer – there are several factors which lead to the development of this type of cancer which include: viruses, genetic susceptibility and diet. Cancers of the oral cavity – recent studies have shown that there is a strong bond between the consumption of alcohol, smoking and the development of this disease. Other factors which can lead to this cancer are diet, chronic irritants, viruses, syphilis. Tumors of the oropharynx and the laryngeal cancers – are also linked to the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and the laryngeal cancers are more common in middle aged persons who have a history of smoking. Hypopharyngeal tumors – are more common in men and the salivary gland cancers develop in the parotid glands.

Head and Neck Cancer – Symptoms

Head and Neck Cancer – Treatment

The Head and Neck Cancer is complex and with different areas and staging systems. Nowadays therapy offers several alternatives which include radiation, surgery, chemotherapy which can be used alone or in combination. The combined therapy is the principal way of treating the patients with locally advanced cancers of the neck and head. Scientists are investigating new methods of treating the patients who are suffering from Head and Neck Cancer such as gene therapy. In the chemotherapy treatment patients use various drugs such as Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, Gemitabine, and so on in association with chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate in order to improve the results of the treatment. Cetuximab is a newer drug which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006.  This drug is used in association with radiation in patients which have squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and which can not be treated with surgery. Cetuximab is also recommended to be used alone in the patients which have Head and Neck Cancers which has spread (metastasis) after a chemotherapy treatment. This medication may produce in patients the following side-effects: fatigue, malaise, nausea, skin rash, infusion reactions (such as chills and fever).

The radio therapy can be used instead of the surgery method or after a surgery in order to destroy the small areas of the cancer which could not been removed during the surgery. Radiation may cause the following side effects: mouth sores, skin reactions such as redness, burning, itching, and difficulty in swallowing. The surgery is an important factor in the treatment of the Head and Neck Cancers as its aim is to remove the cancer completely. The very small cancers usually are treated with one simple surgery under local or general anesthetic with laser surgery and with no need to be hospitalized. In the cases in which the cancer is bigger, after the operation, the patient must be hospitalized for at least three days. Chemotherapy uses drugs which destroy the cancer cells which usually develop in the Head and Neck Cancer. These drugs disrupt the growing of the cancer cells. The chemotherapy may be used after surgery or radiotherapy in order to increase the first two’s effectiveness. The side effects which the patients may experience after the chemotherapy treatment include the temporarily reduced number of the normal cells in the blood as the chemotherapy drugs are usually administered intravenously. Patients may also experience nausea and vomiting which can be controlled with anti-sickness pills. Some of the chemotherapy medicines may lead to hair loss, which will grow back in maximum 6 months. The patients may also experience the appearance of a sore mouth or mouth ulcers; this is why the doctor must recommend the patients to do regular mouthwashes. Chemotherapy affects the people who are undergoing it in different ways. A part of the patients may lead a normal life while treating their cancers, while the other part may become very tired and may not feel very good. All these side effect are temporary and will disappear, in time, once the treatment is over.