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Head & Neck Cancer
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Head & Neck Cancer signs, follow-up guidance, risk factors, testing information, and trusted cancer resources from PINC Foundation.
Head and neck cancers can begin in the mouth, throat, voice box, nasal cavity, sinuses, or salivary glands. Changes lasting a few weeks should be checked.
HPV-related throat cancers may occur in adults without a tobacco history and can present with a painless neck lump. In young adults, persistent one-sided symptoms or a neck mass still deserve evaluation.
• Tobacco in any form and heavy alcohol use
• High-risk HPV, especially for oropharyngeal cancer
• Epstein-Barr virus for nasopharyngeal cancer
• Sun exposure for lip cancer
• Certain workplace exposures and poor oral health
• Tobacco in any form and heavy alcohol use
• High-risk HPV, especially for oropharyngeal cancer
• Epstein-Barr virus for nasopharyngeal cancer
• Sun exposure for lip cancer
• Certain workplace exposures and poor oral health
• A mouth or throat sore that does not heal
• A neck lump or persistent one-sided swelling
• Hoarseness, sore throat, or trouble swallowing that does not go away
• A red or white mouth patch, unexplained oral bleeding, or pain
• One-sided ear pain, blocked nose, nosebleeds, or facial numbness
See a doctor or dentist when a mouth, throat, voice, neck, or ear symptom lasts about two to three weeks, is worsening, or is unexplained. Breathing trouble or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent care.
• A mouth or throat sore that does not heal
• A neck lump or persistent one-sided swelling
• Hoarseness, sore throat, or trouble swallowing that does not go away
• A red or white mouth patch, unexplained oral bleeding, or pain
• One-sided ear pain, blocked nose, nosebleeds, or facial numbness
See a doctor or dentist when a mouth, throat, voice, neck, or ear symptom lasts about two to three weeks, is worsening, or is unexplained. Breathing trouble or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent care.
There is no standard routine screening test for head and neck cancers in average-risk people. Dental visits may identify suspicious mouth changes, but persistent symptoms still require medical or dental evaluation.
• Examination of the mouth, throat, nose, ears, and neck
• Flexible scope examination by an ENT specialist
• Ultrasound, CT, MRI, or PET imaging when indicated
• Needle biopsy of a neck mass or biopsy of an abnormal area
• HPV or other tumor testing if cancer is found
There is no standard routine screening test for head and neck cancers in average-risk people. Dental visits may identify suspicious mouth changes, but persistent symptoms still require medical or dental evaluation.
• Examination of the mouth, throat, nose, ears, and neck
• Flexible scope examination by an ENT specialist
• Ultrasound, CT, MRI, or PET imaging when indicated
• Needle biopsy of a neck mass or biopsy of an abnormal area
• HPV or other tumor testing if cancer is found
• Should I see an ENT specialist or oral surgeon?
• Does this neck lump need ultrasound and needle biopsy?
• Could HPV be relevant?
• What is the plan if the symptom does not resolve?
• Should I see an ENT specialist or oral surgeon?
• Does this neck lump need ultrasound and needle biopsy?
• Could HPV be relevant?
• What is the plan if the symptom does not resolve?
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer.html
https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer.html
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