Head & Neck Cancer - All You Must Know!

Head and Neck Cancer, which is better known as throat cancer, refers to a state when different malignant tumours tend to develop around the throat, neck, sinus, mouth as well as in larynx. During this situation, there is uncontrolled growth of cell in the throat. It is quite a rare kind of cancer compared to other types. The rate of survival mainly depends on the stage of cancer and the area that gets affected.

Before looking at the tips regarding the modes of treatment and how to prevent the occurrence of head and neck cancer or throat cancer, let us briefly talk about the symptoms and causes of this problem:

Symptoms

There are different types of signs and symptoms related to this kind of cancer. They include:

• Cough
• Voice change, which leads to hoarseness or being unable to speak clearly
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Pain the ear
• A lump or tumour that does not get healed
• A sore throat
• Loss of weight

Causes

There are a number of risk factors, which result in the occurrence of head and neck cancer. The causes or risk factors include:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Consumption of alcohol
• Exposure to sunlight
• Human Papillomavirus infection
• Radiation to one’s head and neck
• Exposure to wood dust
• Consumption of some preservatives
• Bad oral hygiene

Tips On How To Treat As Well As Prevent The Occurrence Of This Cancer

Now, having discussed the signs and symptoms as well as the causes that result in people suffering from Head and Neck Cancer, it is important to immediately consult an oncologist as when one comes across those symptoms. An oncologist is well-equipped to take responsibility for giving systemic therapy. Let us take a look at some of the tips to tackle the Head and Neck Cancer:

• All those patients who are suffering from Head and Neck Cancer would receive systemic therapy from Oncologists.
• Systemic therapies are medications, which go throughout the body.
• People should avoid going for radiation or surgery as both these would only target a particular area.
• For head and neck cancer, one must always go for systemic therapies that include the chemotherapy and the targeted therapy.
• Affected people can also undergo treatment with either one medication or with a combined effect of medicines, known as a regimen.
• Oncologists make a choice of the exact recipe of the medicines, which would ideally suit the person’s cancer and follow accordingly during the treatment.
• Ideal chemotherapy medication, which almost all the regimens would have is known as Cisplatin.
• An oncologist would suggest people stay away from the consumption of alcohol and also from smoking tobacco.
• They also suggest people be particular about their oral hygiene.