Watch out for these 6 signs of head and neck cancers!
Head and neck cancers are serious health issues where early diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of these types of cancer is critical to protecting your health. Here are 6 important symptoms you should pay attention to.
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Cancer is a malignant disease that can occur at any age, resulting from the uncontrolled and abnormal proliferation of cells. Head and neck cancers account for approximately 9% of all cancers and 4% of cancer-related deaths. Early diagnosis is of vital importance for this type of cancer, which is generally seen in the thyroid, nasopharynx, larynx, tongue, and lip regions. Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Burak Aşık shared important information about head and neck cancers, their symptoms, and treatment methods.
IF SYMPTOMS ARE NOT IGNORED, THE DISEASE CAN BE DIAGNOSED EARLY
Head and neck cancers, most of which can be detected during a physical examination, present many symptoms that the patient can also recognize. The symptoms of head and neck cancers can be listed as follows:
Hoarseness lasting longer than three weeks
Recurring sores inside the lips and mouth
A palpable lump in the neck the size of a chickpea
Excessive weight loss
Difficulty swallowing
Facial paralysis
It is of vital importance for the patient to be examined by an otorhinolaryngologist without delay when these symptoms are observed, because the success rate in this type of cancer is quite high with early diagnosis and treatment.
SMOKING AND ALCOHOL ARE THE MAIN CULPRITS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCERS
Laryngeal cancer, which makes up 50% of these types of cancer, ranks first among the most common head and neck cancers. While it is mostly seen in men over the age of 50, the risk of developing head and neck cancer increases 4-5 times in people with high tobacco and alcohol consumption. In addition, poor nutrition, poor oral hygiene, and the HPV virus are among the factors that can trigger cancers in this region.
MODERN DIAGNOSTIC METHODS ARE USED
In head and neck cancers, when the tumor is caught in the early stage without metastasis—meaning it has not spread to different parts of the body—the quality and duration of life are positively affected. For diagnosis, a biopsy is taken from the suspicious tissue, and after various blood tests, methods such as X-ray, computed tomography, MRI, scintigraphy, and PET are used to investigate the deep effects of the disease and to obtain information about its metastasis and distant spread.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH BRINGS TREATMENT SUCCESS
In head and neck cancers, treatment is generally completed with the removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy sessions; however, chemotherapy is also added to this plan in advanced-stage cancers. In cases where surgery is delayed, palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy are administered to improve the patient's quality of life. Since the type of treatment, planning, and surgery to be performed are determined according to the location of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, the patient's age, and socioeconomic status, the course of action is decided by an oncology council that includes the relevant physicians.