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Cancers of the Head and Neck
Cancers of the head and neck are fairly common illnesses. This group includes cancer of the lips, tongue, mouth, throat, and larynx. Invariably, squamous cell carcinomas (the type of cell causing the cancer) occur with the highest frequency in smokers. It is rare for nonsmokers to get cancers of the head and neck; some physicians feel the combination of smoking and alcohol use makes one particularly at risk for this form of cancer. Estimates predict head and neck cancers will account for over 29,000+ new cases of cancer in the United States in 1993. Approximately 7,700 deaths will occur as a direct result of head and neck cancers that same year. Symptoms of a head and neck cancer can include: persistent unexplained change in the voice (hoarse voice), weight loss, difficulty allowing, and an unexplained sore to the tongue, cheek, or lip that does not heal. The diagnosis of head and neck cancers is typically made by a biopsy performed by an ENT surgeon. Spreading of this type of cancer is frequently to regional lymph nodes, before any kind of distant spread occurs. It is extremely uncommon for cancer to spread beyond the head and neck area, when the disease is controlled (therapeutically) in that area.
Treatment typically consists of surgery after the outcome of the biopsy. When the diagnosis is not made until regional spread of the cancer has occurred, individuals will often receive radiation therapy as the initial management. Chemotherapy has recently been purported as a method of improving initial cure rates, when it is given in combination with radiation therapy prior to surgery. On some occasions, when chemotherapy is given with radiation therapy at the time of surgery, no cancer is found. If the disease has spread, or is no longer controllable with local radiation therapy, or surgery, chemotherapy is used palliatively (supportive care only). Unfortunately, this is rarely curative. Head and neck cancers are best evaluated by an ENT physician. Treatment will typically involve the expertise of an Oncologist.
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