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April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month
Head and neck cancer is not common, accounting for only 4% of cancers in the U.S.
An estimated 66,920 new cases will be diagnosed in 2023, according to Cancer.Net.1 The population most affected is usually older than 50 years of age, and men are 2-3 times more likely to get head and neck cancer than women. Approximately 49,190 men compared to 17,730 women will get the disease. Survival depends on many factors, such as the type of head and neck cancer, how advanced it is when diagnosed, whether or not treatment is obtained, the affected person’s overall health, and continued exposure to known risk factors. Sadly, this year an estimated 15,400 deaths from head and neck cancer will occur.1
What are the main causes?
About 70%-80% of head and neck cancers are caused by tobacco use and by drinking alcohol, particularly consuming alcoholic beverages often and for a long time.2 There is no safe tobacco product regardless of the form, flavor, or if it is labeled as “light.” Infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV, a sexually transmitted virus) is a growing cause of head and neck cancers involving the tonsils and base of the tongue. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays or to artificial UV rays from indoor tanning beds also contributes to lip cancer and skin cancers of the head and neck. Using betel nut, a cultural practice in south and southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and India, and among these groups in the U.S., increases the risk of developing oral cancers.3
Symptoms vary fections and hoarseness, may be indications of cancer. Other signs include a lump or thickening in the mouth, jaw pain or swelling in the jaw, difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving the tongue, ear pain or infections, and blood in the saliva. Talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you engage in some of the risk behaviors described earlier. augusta.edu/cancer/community
This cancer is preventable
The Georgia Cancer Center offers tobacco cessation services. Call us at 706-721-0456.
For information about cancers we treat visit the Cancer Center website or Augusta University Health at augustahealth.org/cancer-care.
Resources
Signs or symptoms for head and neck cancer may include a sore that does not heal in the mouth, nasal passage, throat, or esophagus.4 A change in the color of the lining of the mouth, such as a red or white patch, a foul mouth odor, nasal congestion, frequent nosebleeds, or unusual nasal discharge, as well as chronic sinus in-
Besides avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut, it is important to take care of your teeth and gums with proper oral care every day. Your dentist or primary care provider can conduct a head and neck screening at your annual dental visit or health exam, and can check any unusual changes in the condition of your mouth, nasal cavity, or throat. They will also feel for lumps in your neck and jaw area. Head and neck cancer can be prevented, and if diagnosed early, it is curable
“The C Word” is a news brief of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University. For cancer info visit: augusta. edu/cancer/community. To request exhibits or speaking engagements, contact Christine O’Meara, Community Outreach Coordinator, Cancer Information and Awareness at comeara@ augusta.edu or 706-721-8353.
1. Cancer.Net, a service of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) cancer. net/cancer-types/head-and-neck-cancer/statistics Accessed 4/4/23.
2. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Head and Neck Cancers. cancer.gov/types/headand-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet#q2
3. Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Betel Nut. adf.org.au/drug-facts/betel-nut
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Head and Neck Cancers. cdc. gov/cancer/headneck
