New on the MedlinePlus Head and Neck Cancer page

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• After chemotherapy - discharge
• Cranial CT scan
• Glomus jugulare tumor
• Mouth and neck radiation - discharge
• Neck dissection - discharge
• Swallowing problems

Related Health Topics

• Esophageal Cancer
• Eye Cancer
• Nasal Cancer
• Oral Cancer
• Parathyroid Disorders
• Salivary Gland Cancer
• Throat Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Head and Neck Canceris the National Cancer Institute

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Summary

Head and neck cancer includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat, and lymph nodes in the neck. Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose and throat. Symptoms include

• A lump or sore that does not heal
• A sore throat that does not go away
• Trouble swallowing
• A change or hoarseness in the voice

Using tobacco or alcohol increases your risk. In fact, 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco. If found early, these cancers are often curable. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. Treatments can affect eating, speaking or even breathing, so patients may need rehabilitation.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• Do I Have a Tumor of the Oropharynx? (American Head and Neck Society)
• Head and Neck Cancer (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• Head and Neck Cancers  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish

Latest News

• Head, Neck Cancer Patients May Be at Higher Risk for Suicide (11/12/2015, HealthDay)

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head  (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)Available in Spanish
• Head and Neck Cancer: Symptoms and Signs (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- Head  (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)Available in Spanish
• Stages of Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary  (National Cancer Institute)

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Head and Neck Cancer  (National Cancer Institute)
• Head and Neck Cancer Treatment (Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology)Available in Spanish
• Treatment Option Overview (Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary)  (National Cancer Institute)
• Treatment Options for Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary  (National Cancer Institute)
• Understanding Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Guide for Adults and Their Caregivers (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

Related Issues

• 50 Facts about Oral, Head and Neck Cancer (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• Cigar Smoking and Cancer  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish
• Difficulty Chewing (American Society of Clinical Oncology)Available in Spanish
• Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth  (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)Available in Spanish
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)Available in Spanish
• Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ)  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish

Specific Conditions

• Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• General Information about Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer with Occult Primary  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish
• Laryngeal (Voice Box) Cancer (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma  (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Head and Neck Neoplasms  (National Institutes of Health)

Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Evolution of treatment and high-risk features in resectable locally advanced...
• Article: Routine screening for pain combined with a pain treatment protocol...
• Article: Survival rates with head and neck cancers vary widely, audit...
• Head and Neck Cancer -- see more articles
• Ear,nose, and tracheal cancers -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish
• Mouth and Throat  (National Cancer Institute) - PDF

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery 
• American Cancer Society 
• Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
• Find an ENT (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• National Cancer Institute Available in Spanish
• NCI Designated Cancer Centers  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish
• Organizations That Offer Support Services  (National Cancer Institute)Available in Spanish

Children

• Childhood Head and Neck Irradiation (American Thyroid Association) - PDF

Patient Handouts

• After chemotherapy - discharge Available in Spanish
• Glomus jugulare tumor Available in Spanish
• Head and Neck Radiation Treatment and Your Mouth  (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)Available in Spanish
• Mouth and neck radiation - discharge Available in Spanish
• Neck dissection - discharge Available in Spanish
• Swallowing problems Available in Spanish
• Understanding Chemotherapy   (National Cancer Institute) - PDFAvailable in Spanish
• What to Know about Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy)   (National Cancer Institute) - PDFAvailable in Spanish

New on the MedlinePlus Head and Neck Cancer page: Childhood Head and Neck Irradiation 12/24/2015 09:32 AM EST Source: American Thyroid Association - PDF