Detecting and Treating Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers are collectively the seventh most common type of cancer. They can begin in several areas throughout the head and throat but do not include brain- or eye-related cancers, skin cancer, or cancer in the thyroid or esophagus. April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, and our team at Charleston Oncology is spreading the word to educate and empower people to prioritize their health by getting screened for it. Like many cancers, earlier detection yields greater chances of successful outcomes. But how are these cancers detected, and how can they be treated? Let’s start with a brief overview of head and neck cancer.

What Is Head and Neck Cancer?

The name encompasses a host of cancers that can develop in areas like the nasal cavity and sinuses, oral cavity, tongue, salivary glands, larynx and pharynx. Most head and neck cancers begin as squamous cells along the mucosal surfaces – places like the mouth, throat and voice box. Less commonly, some head and neck cancers form in the salivary glands, sinuses, muscles or nerves.

What Causes It?

The leading risk factors for head and neck cancers are alcohol and tobacco use, including exposure to second-hand smoke and smokeless tobacco. Other risk factors include infection with human papillomavirus, Epstein-Barr virus infection, underlying genetic disorders and radiation exposure. Specific occupational industries also increase the risk of head and neck cancer due to exposures to things like asbestos, wood dust, synthetic fibers, nickel dust and formaldehyde.

What are the Symptoms?

General practitioners and dentists often inspect certain areas of the head, neck, oropharynx and mouth at annual check-ups, but if you experience symptoms, seek help for an early diagnosis.  Some symptom examples are:

• White or red sores in the mouth that don’t heal
• A lump or thickening in the head and neck area
• Trouble chewing or swallowing food
• A feeling that something is caught in your throat
• Blocked sinuses that don’t clear
• Pain when swallowing
• Sinus infections that do not respond to treatment with antibiotics

How Is It Detected?

Charleston Oncology’s oncologists are experts in researching, identifying and treating cancer. They work to diagnose cancer in a variety of ways, such as:

Endoscopy

A thin, flexible tube with a camera may be inserted through a patient’s mouth or nostril to get a closer look at the throat or inside the nose.

Medical Imaging Technology

Imaging the area with a CT scan (a series of X-rays from different angles that create images of areas of the body), an MRI (magnetic fields and radio waves create a detailed image), or a PET scan (radioactive tracers produce images of organs and tissues) allows doctors to see signs of the disease and pinpoint the exact location and size of possible cancers.

Biopsies

Tissue samples collected during a biopsy are lab-tested for cancer diagnosis. Depending on the location of the cells, doctors may cut out some of the tissue or use a needle through the skin to collect cells. Special tools are used to biopsy cells in the nose and throat.

How is it Treated?

If cancer is detected, Charleston Oncology assembles a team of specialists – often including a pathologist, oncology nurse or diagnostic radiologist, and other experts like medical, surgical or radiation specialists, dependent upon the diagnosis, to develop a treatment plan specific to the type of cancer and the stage at which it has progressed.

Surgery

Head and neck cancers often involve surgery to remove the tumor. Surgeons attempt to remove all of the cancer as well as a small amount of healthy tissue around it to ensure that the cancer is entirely removed if it has not already spread. Due to the location of the cancers, certain surgeries may affect a patient’s ability to speak or eat. Reconstructive surgery can help replace lost bones and tissues, and rehabilitation specialists work to help these patients regain their abilities to speak and eat.

In cases where the cancer has spread to other bodily structures, surgical removal of all of the cancer may not be possible, but other means of targeting cancers are available.

Radiation Therapy

A machine uses powerful energy (like X-rays or proton beams) to direct radiation to specific affected areas of your body.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves strong medication to kill the cancer cells which have spread. In many cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used together.

Immunotherapy

This treatment involves medicine that uses the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells. The medication helps a patient’s immune system find and destroy cancer cells more easily.

Hormone Therapy

This treatment option slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow. It blocks the body’s ability to produce hormones or interferes with how hormones behave in an attempt to stop the spread or shrink the cancer.

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

These lab-produced antibodies are designed to attach to specific targets in the body and help the immune system fight the cancer or stop its progression.

Palliative Care

For cancer cases that progress, doctors and nurses are specially trained to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. They serve as an extra layer of support during treatments and work to help patients live as comfortably as possible.

Clinical Trials

For some patients, clinical trials are an option. Patients who choose to be part of a clinical trial can try the latest treatments, though side effects and risks are unknown as researchers try to find ways to eliminate these diseases.

The side effects of all of these therapies vary and can be significant. Your team of doctors will work with you to choose the best treatment options based on the disease’s type, stage and location.

Be Your Own Advocate

Most cancers have better treatment outcomes before they have a chance to spread. Visit your dentist and general practitioner regularly, and talk with them to ensure they check for head and neck cancers at your check-ups. If you are experiencing symptoms, seek professional help.

At Charleston Oncology, we are dedicated to providing supportive, expert care throughout your cancer journey. Whether you are seeking a diagnosis or have already been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, find our location nearest to you at www.charlestononlcology.com and make an appointment today.