Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers include those that start in your mouth, throat, voice box, salivary glands, sinuses and nose. In the mouth, cancer can form in:

• Lips
• Front 2/3 of the tongue
• Gums
• Lining of the cheeks and lips
• Floor of the mouth under the tongue
• Roof the mouth
• Behind the wisdom teeth

Cancer in the throat and voice box can affect swallowing or speaking. Cancer of the salivary glands often starts in the floor of the mouth and beneath or behind the jawbone, and may appear as a lump that does not hurt. Cancer can form in the hollow space inside the nose or in the paranasal sinuses. These are hollow spaces around the nose and below and between the eyes.

Sometimes, these cancers first appear in lymph nodes in the neck. Cancer cells can be in these lymph nodes when there is no sign of cancer anywhere else in the head or neck. This type of cancer is called metastatic squamous neck cancer with unknown primary. Head and neck cancers should be treated by a team of medical specialists.

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Vanderbilt is creating and using advanced therapies for certain kinds of cancer that target cancer cells without harming healthy ones. Learn more on our Healthcare Breakthroughs page.

Diagnosis

The way head and neck cancers are diagnosed depends on the specific type of cancer.

Symptoms

• A lump or sore that does not heal
• A persistent sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• A change or hoarseness in the voice
• White or red patches in the mouth (gums, tongue, under tongue, cheeks)
• Jaw swelling
• Unexplained bleeding from the mouth or nose
• Unexplained swelling in the face
• Numbness or paralysis in the face
• Trouble breathing or speaking
• Persistent pain in the neck, ear, nose, mouth or throat
• A mass or lump in the neck

Treatment

Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are common treatments for head and neck cancers. Treatment depends on:

• Where the tumor is
• Cancer stage
• Type of cancer
• Age
• General health

You and your doctor should consider treatment options carefully. Discuss each type of treatment and how it might change the way you look, talk, eat and/or breathe.

Risk Factors

The biggest risk factors for head and neck cancers are using tobacco and overusing alcohol. 85% of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. Other risk factors are:

• Mouth: Sun exposure on lips; possibly Human Papillomavirus (HPV), poor oral health
• Salivary glands: Radiation to the head and neck. This includes exposure to diagnostic x-rays or radiation therapy
• Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity: Repeated exposure and inhalation of certain substances, such as wood or nickel dust
• Nasopharynx: Asian, particularly Chinese, ancestry; Epstein-Barr virus infection; frequent exposure to wood dust; certain preservatives or salted foods
• Oropharynx: Poor oral health. HPV infection and possibly excessive use of mouthwash
• Hypopharynx: Plummer-Vinson syndrome, a rare disorder resulting from iron and other nutritional deficiencies
• Larynx: Exposure to asbestos

Related Links

Vanderbilt Skull Base Center

Vanderbilt Neurosciences

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center

National Cancer Institute

American Cancer Society

Head and Neck Cancer Alliance